Control method of gas water heater, gas water heater and storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a control method of a gas water heater, the gas water heater and a storage medium, and relates to the technical field of water heaters. The method comprises the following steps: controlling the gas water heater to stop burning, acquiring the continuous burning time length before the gas water heater stops burning, the water inlet temperature of the gas water heater and the environmental temperature of the environment where the gas water heater is located; determining the target cleaning time length of the gas water heater according to the continuous burning time length, the water inlet temperature and the environmental temperature; and controlling the gas water heater to run in a cleaning mode according to the target cleaning time length. The application aims to improve the cleaning effect and the energy-saving and noise-reducing effect of the gas water heater.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of water heater technology, and in particular to a control method for a gas water heater, a gas water heater, and a storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] When a gas water heater is burning, the water vapor in the flue gas condenses into acidic condensate when it comes into contact with the cooler heat exchanger fins. The condensate further adsorbs carbon particles to form stubborn carbon deposits, which seriously affect heat exchange efficiency and corrode the pipes.

[0003] The existing post-cleaning logic for water heaters is usually as follows: after the unit is turned off, the fan is controlled to run at a fixed speed for a fixed period of time (e.g., a 90-second delay), or simply extended proportionally according to the combustion time. However, this method of setting the post-cleaning time is prone to problems such as incomplete cleaning in winter and excessive cleaning in summer, resulting in a waste of energy. Consequently, the cleaning effect and energy-saving and noise reduction effects cannot be effectively balanced. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main purpose of this application is to provide a control method for a gas water heater, a gas water heater, and a storage medium, which aims to improve both the cleaning effect and the energy-saving and noise-reducing effect of the gas water heater.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application proposes a control method for a gas water heater, the control method comprising: Control the gas water heater to stop burning, and obtain the continuous burning time of the gas water heater before it stops burning, the inlet water temperature of the gas water heater, and the ambient temperature of the environment where the gas water heater is located; The target cleaning time for the gas water heater is determined based on the continuous combustion duration, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature. The gas water heater's cleaning mode is controlled according to the target cleaning duration.

[0006] In one embodiment, the step of determining the target cleaning time of the gas water heater based on the continuous combustion duration, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature includes: A first temperature difference between the condensing temperature of the gas water heater and the inlet water temperature is determined, and a second temperature difference between the condensing temperature of the gas water heater and the ambient temperature is determined. The target cleaning time is determined based on the first temperature difference value, the second temperature difference value, and the duration of continuous combustion.

[0007] In one embodiment, the step of determining the target cleaning duration based on the first temperature difference value, the second temperature difference value, and the continuous combustion duration includes: The baseline cleaning time for the dehumidification requirement of the gas water heater is determined based on the continuous combustion duration, and the target compensation parameter is determined based on the first temperature difference value and the second temperature difference value. The target cleaning time is determined based on the baseline cleaning time and the target compensation parameters.

[0008] In one embodiment, the step of determining the target cleaning time based on the baseline cleaning time and the target compensation parameter includes: The reference cleaning time is obtained by correcting the baseline cleaning time based on the target compensation parameters. The minimum value between the reference cleaning time and the maximum cleaning time is determined to be the target cleaning time.

[0009] In one embodiment, the target cleaning time is greater than or equal to the baseline cleaning time; and / or, the step of determining the target compensation parameter based on the first temperature difference value and the second temperature difference value includes: The target correction parameter is determined based on the first temperature difference value and the corresponding first weighting coefficient, and the second temperature difference value and the corresponding second weighting coefficient. The target compensation parameters are obtained by correcting the benchmark compensation parameters based on the target correction parameters. Wherein, the first weighting coefficient is greater than the second weighting coefficient.

[0010] In one embodiment, the target cleaning time is less than or equal to the maximum cleaning time, and after the step of controlling the gas water heater to stop combustion, the method further includes: When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the gas water heater is controlled to operate in cleaning mode according to the preset cleaning time, and the preset cleaning time is less than the maximum cleaning time; When the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, the step of determining the target cleaning time of the gas water heater based on the continuous combustion time, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature is executed.

[0011] In one embodiment, the step of controlling the gas water heater to operate the cleaning mode according to a preset cleaning duration further includes: When the temperature difference between the current inlet water temperature and the freezing temperature of the gas water heater is less than or equal to the preset temperature difference, the gas water heater is controlled to stop running the cleaning mode, and the heating module in the gas water heater is controlled to turn on to heat the water circuit of the gas water heater.

[0012] In one embodiment, the fan in the gas water heater is turned on in the cleaning mode, and the step of controlling the gas water heater to operate the cleaning mode according to the target cleaning duration includes: The purging operation is performed according to the purging duration to discharge the residue inside the gas water heater to the outside of the gas water heater. The purging operation includes the fan running at the purging speed. A drying operation is performed according to the drying time to dry the inside of the gas water heater. The drying operation includes the fan running at a drying speed. The sum of the purging time and the drying time is the target cleaning time, and the purging speed is greater than the drying speed.

[0013] In one embodiment, the purging time is less than or equal to the drying time; and / or, the gas water heater includes an air inlet structure, a burner, a heat exchanger, and a fan arranged sequentially from bottom to top. The air inlet structure includes a first air plate and a second air plate. The first air plate is provided with a plurality of first vent holes, and the second air plate is provided with a plurality of second vent holes. The second air plate is movable relative to the first air plate between a first position and a second position. The purging operation includes: the blower running at the purging speed, the second air vane being located at the second position, or controlling the second air vane to reciprocate between the first position and the second position; The drying operation includes: the fan operating at the drying speed, and the second air plate operating at the first position; When the second air deflector is in the first position, the first air vent and the second air vent are aligned one-to-one; when the second air deflector is in the second position, the first air vent and the second air vent are misaligned and connected.

[0014] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also proposes a gas water heater, which includes: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program being configured to implement the steps of the control method for the gas water heater as described above.

[0015] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also proposes a storage medium, which is a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the control method for a gas water heater as described above.

[0016] The one or more technical solutions proposed in this application have at least the following technical effects: the cleaning time of the cleaning mode after the gas water heater stops burning is no longer a fixed time, nor is it determined solely based on the continuous combustion time. Instead, the target cleaning time of the cleaning mode is determined by combining the continuous combustion time, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature. Based on this, the target cleaning time can be precisely matched with the amount of condensate produced under the current operating conditions, reducing the occurrence of energy waste caused by incomplete or excessive condensate cleaning, thereby balancing the improvement of the cleaning effect and the energy-saving and noise-reducing effect of the gas water heater. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the gas water heater provided in this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the air intake structure of a gas water heater; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second air baffle in the gas water heater provided in this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the equipment structure of the hardware operating environment involved in the control method of the gas water heater in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the control method for a gas water heater provided in this application; Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating Embodiment 2 of the control method for a gas water heater provided in this application; Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating Embodiment 3 of the control method for a gas water heater according to this application.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Control device; 1. Air inlet structure; 11. First air panel; 111. First vent; 12. Second air panel; 121. Second vent; 122. Second protrusion; 2. Burner; 3. Heat exchanger; 4. Fan; 5. Drive mechanism.

[0021] The purpose, features, and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0022] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0023] To better understand the technical solution of this application, a detailed description will be provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0024] The main solution of this application embodiment is: controlling the gas water heater to stop combustion, obtaining the continuous combustion duration before the gas water heater stops combustion, the inlet water temperature of the gas water heater, and the ambient temperature of the environment where the gas water heater is located; determining the target cleaning duration of the gas water heater based on the continuous combustion duration, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature; and controlling the gas water heater to operate the cleaning mode based on the target cleaning duration.

[0025] In this embodiment, for ease of description, the following description uses a gas water heater as the subject of execution.

[0026] In existing water heater post-cleaning logic, the common practice is to control the fan to run at a fixed speed for a fixed period (e.g., a 90-second delay) after shutdown, or simply extend the time proportionally to the combustion time. However, this post-cleaning duration setting is prone to problems such as incomplete cleaning in winter and excessive cleaning in summer, wasting energy and resulting in a failure to effectively balance cleaning performance with energy saving and noise reduction. Specifically, in winter (when both inlet and ambient water temperatures are extremely low), the fin surface temperature is very low, leading to significant condensation that traditional fixed cleaning times cannot dry. In summer, the temperature difference is small, resulting in minimal condensation, yet traditional logic still allows prolonged airflow, wasting energy and generating unnecessary noise. In some extremely cold regions, prolonged intake of extremely cold air after shutdown can actually cause residual water inside the heat exchanger to freeze, leading to freezing and leaks.

[0027] This application provides the above-mentioned solution, where the cleaning time of the cleaning mode after the gas water heater stops combustion is no longer a fixed duration, nor is it determined solely based on the continuous combustion time. Instead, the target cleaning time of the cleaning mode is determined by combining the continuous combustion time, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature. Based on this, the target cleaning time can be precisely matched with the amount of condensate produced under the current operating conditions, reducing the occurrence of energy waste caused by incomplete or excessive condensate cleaning, thereby balancing the cleaning effect and energy saving and noise reduction of the gas water heater. Specifically, the perfect balance between maximizing cleaning effect and energy saving and noise reduction is achieved by mathematizing the physical condensation mechanism. In winter, when the temperature difference is large (low ambient temperature), the cleaning time is automatically extended and the fan speed is increased to ensure that acidic condensate is completely drained, extending the life of the heat exchanger. In summer, when the temperature is high (high ambient temperature), the time is automatically shortened, effectively saving energy and reducing shutdown noise. In addition, it can achieve multi-dimensional protection: it adopts a segmented strategy of "strong wind drainage + weak wind drying", which conforms to the thermal principle of water evaporation; and it is the first to add extreme cold antifreeze protection in the post-cleaning logic (when the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the gas water heater is controlled to operate the cleaning mode according to the preset cleaning time), which completely eliminates the risk of freezing and cracking caused by excessive sweeping in extremely cold weather, and improves the environmental adaptability and safety of the product.

[0028] This application provides an embodiment of a gas water heater.

[0029] In this embodiment, refer to Figures 1 to 3 The gas water heater includes an air inlet structure 1, a burner 2, a heat exchanger 3, and a fan 4 arranged sequentially from bottom to top. The air inlet structure 1 includes a first air plate 11 and a second air plate 12. The first air plate 11 is provided with a plurality of first vent holes 111, and the second air plate 12 is provided with a plurality of second vent holes 121. The second air plate 12 can move relative to the first air plate 11 between a first position and a second position: when the second air plate 12 is in the first position, the first vent holes 111 and the second vent holes 121 are aligned one-to-one; when the second air plate 12 is in the second position, the first vent holes 111 and the second vent holes 121 are misaligned and connected.

[0030] Burner 2 can burn gas to produce high-temperature flue gas.

[0031] The heat exchanger 3 is located above the burner 2. Water can enter the heat exchanger 3 and exchange heat with the flue gas to form hot water.

[0032] The fan 4 can be installed above the heat exchanger 3. When the fan 4 is in the open state, it can draw the flue gas in the combustion chamber to the outside of the gas water heater and drive the outside air from the air inlet structure 1 into the combustion chamber to provide the required air for the combustion of the burner 2.

[0033] The first air vane 11 and the second air vane 12 are stacked. The first air vane 11 and the second air vane 12 can be arranged at intervals along the airflow direction driven by the fan 4, the first air vane 11 and the second air vane 12 can be arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, or the first air vane 11 and the second air vane 12 can also be arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction. In some other implementations, the first air vane 11 can also be attached to the second air vane 12.

[0034] In this embodiment, the first air vane 11 is a fixed air vane, and the second air vane 12 is a movable air vane. In other implementations, both the first air vane 11 and the second air vane 12 can be movable air vanes.

[0035] In this embodiment, the number, shape, and distribution density of the first vent holes 111 on the first air plate 11 can be set according to the amount of air required for normal combustion of the gas water heater, and / or the number, shape, and distribution density of the second vent holes 121 on the second air plate 12 can be set according to the amount of air required for normal combustion of the gas water heater.

[0036] When the second air deflector 12 is in the first position, the flow area, number, and distribution density of the first air intake channel formed by the alignment and connection of the first vent 111 and the second vent 121 are set according to the air volume required for normal combustion of the gas water heater. When the second air deflector 12 is in the first position, the first air intake channel is a direct current channel, and the air intake of the gas water heater is in a steady-state direct current state. When the external airflow first flows through the second air deflector 12 and then through the first air deflector 11, the airflow direction will not bend, and the airflow direction is the same as the axis of the first vent 111.

[0037] When the second air deflector 12 is in the second position, the degree of tortuosity, number, and distribution of the second air intake channel formed by the misaligned connection between the first vent 111 and the second vent 121 can be set according to the requirements for cleaning condensate and carbon deposits on the heat exchanger 3. When the second air deflector 12 is in the second position, the second air intake channel is a tortuous channel, and the air intake of the gas water heater is in an irregular and turbulent airflow state. When the external airflow first flows through the second air deflector 12 and then through the first air deflector 11, the airflow direction will bend, and the airflow direction will be different from the axis of the first vent 111.

[0038] In this embodiment, the flow area of ​​the first air intake channel is the maximum flow area achievable when the first vent 111 and the second vent 121 are connected. The flow area of ​​the second air intake channel is greater than or equal to 10% of the maximum flow area and less than the maximum flow area. In some implementations, the flow area of ​​the second air intake channel may be greater than or equal to 10% of the maximum flow area and less than or equal to 70% of the maximum flow area to ensure the turbulent state and multidirectional nature of the airflow when the first air vane 11 and the second air vane 12 cooperate. For example, the flow area of ​​the second air intake channel may be 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, etc., of the maximum flow area.

[0039] In this embodiment, the second vent 121 communicates with the first vent 111 when the second air plate 12 is in the second position, which is the same as the first vent 111 communicated by the second vent 121 when the second air plate 12 is in the first position. In other implementations, the second vent 121 communicates with the first vent 111 when the second air plate 12 is in the second position, which is different from the first vent 111 communicated by the second vent 121 when the second air plate 12 is in the first position.

[0040] In this embodiment, the number of first vent holes 111 is the same as the number of second vent holes 121. The first vent holes 111 and the second vent holes 121 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. In the first position, each first vent hole 111 is aligned with and connected to the corresponding second vent hole 121 to form a first air intake channel. In the second position, each first vent hole 111 is misaligned with and connected to the corresponding second vent hole 121 to form a second air intake channel.

[0041] In some implementations, the number of first vent holes 111 may be greater than or less than the number of second vent holes 121. When the number of first vent holes 111 is greater than the number of second vent holes 121, the number, size, and distribution density of the second vent holes 121 can be set according to the amount of air required for normal combustion. Each second vent hole 121 corresponds to at least one first vent hole 111. When the second air deflector 12 is in the first position, all second vent holes 121 are aligned and connected with the first vent holes 111, and some first vent holes 111 may not allow airflow. When the second air deflector 12 is in the second position, one second vent hole 121 may be misaligned and connected with more than one first vent hole 111. When the number of first vent holes 111 is less than the number of second vent holes 121, the number, size, and distribution density of the first vent holes 111 can be set according to the amount of air required for normal combustion. Each first vent hole 111 corresponds to at least one second vent hole 121. When the second air plate 12 is in the first position, all first vent holes 111 are aligned and connected with the second vent holes 121, and some second vent holes 121 may not allow airflow. When the second air plate 12 is in the second position, one first vent hole 111 may be misaligned and connected with more than one second vent hole 121.

[0042] In this embodiment, the shape of the first vent 111 is the same as the shape of its corresponding second vent 121, such as both being elliptical, circular, or rectangular, etc. In some implementations, the shape of the first vent 111 and its corresponding second vent 121 may be different, for example, the first vent 111 is circular and the second vent 121 is elliptical, etc.

[0043] The dimensions of the first vent 111 and its corresponding second vent 121 may be the same or different. The dimensions and / or shapes of the first vents 111 on the first air plate 11 may be the same or different, and the dimensions and / or shapes of the second vents 121 on the second air plate 12 may be the same or different.

[0044] The distribution density of the first ventilation hole 111 on the first air plate 11 and the distribution density of the second ventilation hole 121 on the second air plate 12 may be the same or different.

[0045] In some implementations, the second air vane 12 can move back and forth between the first position and the second position. This allows the airflow to alternate between turbulent and direct flow states, producing a "pulse"-like cleaning effect. On the other hand, the mechanical movement of the second air vane 12 itself will also disturb the airflow, further enhancing the turbulence intensity.

[0046] In this embodiment, the air intake structure 1 of the gas water heater includes a first air plate 11 and a second air plate 12. The second air plate 12 is movable relative to the first air plate 11. When the second air plate 12 moves to the first position, the first vent 111 on the first air plate 11 and the second vent 121 on the second air plate 12 can be aligned to form a smooth airflow channel. The airflow driven by the fan 4 can pass through the air plate in a stable DC form, providing a stable air supply to the burner 2 and ensuring combustion efficiency and flame stability. When the second air plate 12 moves to the second position, the first air plate 111 on the first air plate 11 and the second vent 121 on the second air plate 12 can be aligned to form a smooth airflow channel. The airflow driven by the fan 4 can pass through the air plate in a stable DC form, providing a stable air supply to the burner 2 and ensuring combustion efficiency and flame stability. The first vent 111 and the second vent 121 are misaligned and connected, partially blocking the originally neatly arranged airflow channels. The airflow is forced to change direction, meandering through the misaligned openings, forming an irregular and turbulent airflow pattern. This turbulent airflow has multiple directions and can wash over all surfaces of the heat exchanger 3 fins, including gaps and corners that traditional direct-flow airflow cannot reach. This reduces cleaning dead zones, effectively loosens and blows off carbon deposits and residual condensate adhering to the fins, thereby ensuring combustion efficiency while improving the cleaning effect of carbon deposits and residual condensate on the surface of the heat exchanger 3. The gas water heater of this application achieves a technological leap from "variable flow rate" to "variable flow state," realizing thorough cleaning; synergistic effect of structure and control; energy saving and environmental protection; and extending the service life of the water heater.

[0047] In one embodiment, combined with Figure 2 The first air plate 11 is fixedly installed, and the first air plate 11 is located above the second air plate 12, or the first air plate 11 is located below the second air plate 12.

[0048] When the first air panel 11 is located above the second air panel 12, the second air panel 12 can be installed below the first air panel 11 via a mounting bracket. When the first air panel 11 is located below the second air panel 12, the second air panel 12 can be installed above the first air panel 11 via a mounting bracket.

[0049] The mounting bracket may include a first bracket and a second bracket spaced apart. The second air plate 12 has a first end and a second end that are arranged opposite to each other. The first bracket is configured to support the first end of the second air plate 12, and the second bracket is configured to support the second end of the second air plate 12. The first bracket may be provided with a first mounting groove, and the second bracket may be provided with a second mounting groove. The first end of the second air plate 12 may pass through the first mounting groove, and the second end of the second air plate 12 may pass through the second mounting groove.

[0050] In this embodiment, the fan 4, burner 2, and heat exchanger 3 are all located inside the combustion chamber of the gas water heater. Driven by the fan 4, the airflow can flow from below through the first air plate 11 and the second air plate 12 in sequence, or flow through the second air plate 12 and the first air plate 11 in sequence and then blow onto the burner 2 and the heat exchanger 3. The generated flue gas is then discharged from the top of the gas water heater. This airflow arrangement can improve combustion efficiency and cleaning efficiency.

[0051] In this embodiment, the first air deflector 11 is fixed, while the position of the second air deflector 12 can be changed to switch the airflow state of the gas water heater between steady state and unstable state. This reduces the need for structures related to the movement of the first air deflector 11, which helps to ensure combustion effect and improve cleaning effect while simplifying the structure of the gas water heater.

[0052] In one embodiment, a first protrusion is provided on the surface of the first air plate 11 facing the second air plate 12.

[0053] The first air plate 11 may have a third plate surface and a fourth plate surface arranged opposite to each other, with the third plate surface facing the second air plate 12 and the fourth plate surface facing away from the second air plate 12. A first protrusion may be provided on the third plate surface.

[0054] When the first air plate 11 is located above the second air plate 12, the top surface of the first air plate 11 is the fourth plate surface and the bottom surface of the first air plate 11 is the third plate surface; when the first air plate 11 is located below the second air plate 12, the top surface of the first air plate 11 is the third plate surface and the bottom surface of the first air plate 11 is the fourth plate surface.

[0055] The number of first protrusions can be one or more. When there is more than one first protrusion, the additional protrusions can be respectively set at the two ends opposite each other on the third plate surface to improve structural stability.

[0056] The direction of movement of the second air plate 12 when it moves between the first position and the second position is the reference direction, and the first protrusion can be extended along the reference direction.

[0057] In this embodiment, a first protrusion is provided on the surface of the first air plate 11 facing the second air plate 12, which can maintain a small gap between the first air plate 11 and the second air plate 12, thereby reducing friction and jamming between the first air plate 11 and the second air plate 12 and improving the smoothness of the state switching of the air intake structure 1.

[0058] In one embodiment, combined with Figure 2 The second air plate 12 includes a first plate surface facing the first air plate 11 and a second plate surface facing away from the first air plate 11, and the first plate surface and / or the second plate surface are provided with a second protrusion 122.

[0059] When the first air panel 11 is located above the second air panel 12, the first panel surface is the top surface of the second air panel 12, and the second panel surface is the bottom surface of the second air panel 12. When the first air panel 11 is located below the second air panel 12, the first panel surface can be the bottom surface of the second air panel 12, and the second panel surface can be the top surface of the second air panel 12.

[0060] When a second protrusion 122 is provided on the first plate, the number of the second protrusion 122 can be one or more. More than one second protrusion 122 can be provided at opposite ends of the first plate to improve structural stability.

[0061] When a second protrusion 122 is provided on the second plate, the number of the second protrusion 122 can be one or more. More than one second protrusion 122 can be provided at opposite ends of the second plate to improve structural stability.

[0062] The direction of movement of the second air deflector 12 when it moves between the first position and the second position is the reference direction, and the second protrusion 122 can be extended along the reference direction.

[0063] In this embodiment, a second protrusion 122 is provided on the first plate surface, which allows a small gap to be maintained between the first air plate 11 and the second air plate 12, thereby reducing frictional jamming between the first air plate 11 and the second air plate 12 and improving the smoothness of the state switching of the air intake structure 1. Similarly, providing the second protrusion 122 on the second plate surface reduces frictional jamming between the second plate surface and other components, further improving the smoothness of the state switching of the air intake structure 1.

[0064] In one embodiment, the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion 122 is a high-temperature resistant structure. This prevents the second air deflector 12 from becoming stuck due to friction caused by high-temperature deformation of the protrusion or accumulation of foreign matter.

[0065] In one embodiment, combined with Figure 2 The minimum flow area of ​​the first vent 111 is less than or equal to the minimum flow area of ​​its corresponding second vent 121.

[0066] In this embodiment, the minimum flow area of ​​the first vent 111 can be set according to the amount of air required for normal combustion.

[0067] In this embodiment, both the first vent 111 and the second vent 121 are circular holes, so the minimum diameter of the first vent 111 is less than or equal to the minimum diameter of the second vent 121.

[0068] In this embodiment, the minimum flow area of ​​the second vent 121 is not less than the minimum flow area of ​​its corresponding first vent 111, which ensures that the second air plate 12 does not affect the air flow required for normal combustion of the gas water heater when it is in the first position, and maintains stable airflow resistance and flow in normal combustion mode to effectively ensure the combustion effect of the gas water heater.

[0069] In other embodiments, the ratio of the minimum flow area of ​​the second vent 121 to the minimum flow area of ​​its corresponding first vent 111 is greater than or equal to 0.8. For example, the ratio can be 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, etc. Based on this, the minimum flow area of ​​the second vent 121 can also be smaller than the minimum flow area of ​​the first vent 111, which is beneficial to improving the cleaning effect while ensuring the combustion effect.

[0070] In one embodiment, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 The first vent 111 has an equal flow area at each position in its axial direction; and / or the second vent 121 has a variable flow area at each position in its axial direction. In this embodiment, the cross-section of the first vent 111 is circular, and the first vent 111 can be a straight cylindrical hole of equal diameter. In some other implementations, the cross-section of the first vent 111 can also be square or elliptical, etc.

[0071] In this embodiment, the first air plate 11 is disposed above the second air plate 12, and the axial direction of the second vent 121 is arranged in the vertical direction, with the flow area of ​​the second vent 121 gradually increasing from bottom to top; alternatively, the flow area of ​​the second vent 121 may also gradually decrease from bottom to top along its axial direction. In some other implementations, the flow area of ​​the second vent 121 first increases and then decreases from bottom to top along its axial direction, or the flow area of ​​the second vent 121 first decreases and then increases from bottom to top along its axial direction.

[0072] The second vent 121 can be a countersunk hole that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, or a hole with a flared chamfer.

[0073] In this embodiment, the uniform flow area of ​​the first vent 111 is beneficial to improving the steady-state effect of the airflow in the first position of the second air vane 12, thereby ensuring the combustion effect of the gas water heater. The varying flow area of ​​the second vent 121 at different positions along its axial direction is beneficial to further improving the airflow turbulence effect of the second air vane 12 in the second position, thereby further reducing cleaning dead zones and improving the cleaning effect of the gas water heater. Specifically, the flow area of ​​the second vent 121 gradually increases from bottom to top, which is beneficial to increasing the tortuosity of the airflow channel in the second position of the second air vane 12, thereby improving the turbulence effect and further enhancing the internal cleaning effect of the gas water heater.

[0074] In other embodiments, the flow area of ​​the second vent 121 is equal at all positions in its axial direction; and / or, the flow area of ​​the first vent 111 is varied at all positions in its axial direction. In one embodiment, the diameter of the first vent 111 is the same as the minimum diameter of the bottom of the second vent 121.

[0075] In this embodiment, the diameter of the first vent 111 is the same at different positions, and the diameter of the second vent 121 gradually increases from bottom to top.

[0076] The above methods help to ensure combustion efficiency while improving cleaning effectiveness.

[0077] In one embodiment, combined with Figure 1 and Figure 2 The gas water heater further includes a drive mechanism 5, which is connected to the second air vane 12 in a transmission manner; the drive mechanism 5 is configured to drive the second air vane 12 to move between the first position and the second position.

[0078] The drive mechanism 5 may include an electric push rod mechanism, or a stepper motor combined with an eccentric wheel structure, or a crank-slider mechanism, etc.

[0079] In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 5 enables the second air vane 12 to automatically switch between different positions under the drive of the drive mechanism 5, thereby ensuring the combustion effect while improving the cleaning effect of the heat exchanger 3.

[0080] In other embodiments, the second air deflector 12 can also be switched between a first position and a second position under manual drive.

[0081] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 4 The gas water heater also includes a control device 100. The control device 100 can be built into the gas water heater body. Alternatively, the control device 100 can be independently located outside the gas water heater body and communicate with the gas water heater via wired or wireless means. The aforementioned fan 4, burner 2, and drive mechanism 5 can communicate with the control device 100.

[0082] Combination Figure 4 The gas water heater may also include a water inlet sensor 01 that is communicatively connected to the control device 100. The water inlet sensor 01 may be installed in the water inlet pipe of the heat exchanger 3 to detect the water inlet temperature of the gas water heater.

[0083] Combination Figure 4 The gas water heater may also include an environmental sensor 02 that is communicatively connected to the control device 100. The environmental sensor 02 may be installed on the outer casing of the gas water heater to detect the ambient temperature of the environment in which the gas water heater is located.

[0084] Among them, combined Figure 4The control device 100 includes: at least one processor 1001; and a memory 1002 communicatively connected to the at least one processor 1001, and a timer 1003, etc.; wherein the memory 1002 stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor 1001, the instructions being executed by the at least one processor 1001 to enable the at least one processor 1001 to perform the control method of the gas water heater in the following embodiment.

[0085] The following is for reference. Figure 4 The diagram illustrates a structural schematic suitable for implementing the control device 100 in the embodiments of this application. The control device 100 in the embodiments of this application may include, but is not limited to, mobile terminals such as mobile phones, laptops, digital broadcast receivers, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), PADs (Portable Application Description), PMPs (Portable Media Players), in-vehicle terminals (e.g., in-vehicle navigation terminals), and fixed terminals such as digital TVs and desktop computers. Figure 4 The control device 100 shown is merely an example and should not impose any limitation on the functionality and scope of use of the embodiments of this application.

[0086] like Figure 4As shown, the control device 100 may include a processor 1001 (e.g., a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, etc.), which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in memory 1002. The program in memory 1002 may be a program in read-only memory (ROM) or a program loaded from a storage device into random access memory (RAM). The RAM also stores various programs and data required for the operation of the control device 100. The processor 1001 and memory 1002 (ROM and RAM) are interconnected via a bus. An input / output (I / O) interface is also connected to the bus. Typically, the following systems can be connected to the I / O interface: input devices including, for example, touchscreens, touchpads, keyboards, mice, image sensors, microphones, accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.; output devices including, for example, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), speakers, vibrators, etc.; storage devices including, for example, magnetic tapes, hard disks, etc.; and communication devices. The communication device allows the control device 100 to communicate wirelessly or wiredly with other devices to exchange data. Although the control unit 100 with various systems is shown in the figure, it should be understood that it is not required to implement or have all of the systems shown. More or fewer systems may be implemented or have alternatively.

[0087] Specifically, according to the embodiments disclosed in this application, the method flow described in the following embodiments can be implemented as a computer software program. For example, the embodiments disclosed in this application include a computer program product comprising a computer program carried on a computer-readable medium, the computer program containing program code for performing the methods shown in the flowchart. In such embodiments, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via a communication device, or installed from a storage device. When the computer program is executed by the processor 1001, it performs the functions defined in the control method for a gas water heater according to the embodiments disclosed in this application.

[0088] The gas water heater provided in this application, employing the control method described in the following embodiments, solves the technical problem of how to simultaneously improve the cleaning effect and energy-saving and noise-reducing effect of the gas water heater. Compared with the prior art, the gas water heater provided in this application, in addition to the technical effects achievable by the above-described structure, also achieves the same beneficial effects as the control method of the gas water heater provided in the following embodiments. Furthermore, other technical features of this gas water heater are the same as those disclosed in the method of the following embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0089] It should be noted that the executing entity in this embodiment can be a computing service device with data processing, network communication, and program execution functions, such as a tablet computer, personal computer, or mobile phone, or an electronic device or gas water heater capable of performing the above functions. The following description uses a gas water heater as an example to illustrate this embodiment and the subsequent embodiments.

[0090] Based on this, the present application provides a control method for a gas water heater, referring to... Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the control method for a gas water heater according to this application.

[0091] In this embodiment, the control method for the gas water heater includes steps S10 to S30: Step S10: Control the gas water heater to stop burning, and obtain the continuous burning time before the gas water heater stops burning, the inlet water temperature of the gas water heater, and the ambient temperature of the environment where the gas water heater is located; Both the inlet water temperature and the ambient temperature are measured at the initial moment when the gas water heater stops burning. Alternatively, the average inlet water temperature during the continuous combustion process before the gas water heater stops burning can be used as the inlet water temperature, and the average ambient temperature during the continuous combustion process before the gas water heater stops burning can be used as the ambient temperature.

[0092] Step S20: Determine the target cleaning time of the gas water heater based on the continuous combustion time, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature; The target cleaning time is the target value of the total running time of the cleaning mode.

[0093] In one implementation, a relationship between the continuous combustion time, the inlet water temperature, the ambient temperature and the target cleaning time is established in advance. The target cleaning time can be calculated by substituting the continuous combustion time, the inlet water temperature and the ambient temperature into the relationship.

[0094] In another implementation, a mapping relationship is pre-established between different duration ranges of continuous combustion, temperature ranges of inlet water temperature and ambient temperature, and target cleaning time. Based on this mapping relationship, the target cleaning time corresponding to the current continuous combustion time, inlet water temperature and ambient temperature can be determined.

[0095] Step S30: Control the gas water heater to operate the cleaning mode according to the target cleaning duration.

[0096] In cleaning mode, the fan remains on to clean the gas water heater. When the gas water heater stops burning, it enters cleaning mode and starts timing. Once the target cleaning time is reached, the fan can be stopped to exit cleaning mode.

[0097] This embodiment provides a control method for a gas water heater. The cleaning duration of the cleaning mode that the gas water heater operates after combustion stops is no longer a fixed duration, nor is it determined solely based on the continuous combustion duration. Instead, the target cleaning duration of the cleaning mode is determined by combining the continuous combustion duration, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature. Based on this, the target cleaning duration can be precisely matched with the amount of condensate produced under the current operating conditions, reducing the occurrence of energy waste caused by incomplete or excessive condensate cleaning, thereby balancing the improvement of the cleaning effect and the energy-saving and noise-reducing effect of the gas water heater.

[0098] In one feasible implementation, step S20 includes: determining a first temperature difference between the condensing temperature of the gas water heater and the inlet water temperature; determining a second temperature difference between the condensing temperature of the gas water heater and the ambient temperature; and determining the target cleaning duration based on the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, and the continuous combustion duration.

[0099] The condensing temperature is a pre-set critical temperature at which condensate forms on the surface of the heat exchanger in the gas water heater under reference operating conditions. For example, it could be 25 degrees Celsius, a normal temperature in summer, etc.

[0100] In this embodiment, the baseline cleaning time for the dehumidification requirement of the gas water heater is determined based on the continuous combustion duration, and the target compensation parameter is determined based on the first temperature difference value and the second temperature difference value; the target cleaning time is determined based on the baseline cleaning time and the target compensation parameter.

[0101] The baseline cleaning time and the continuous burning time can be positively correlated. The baseline cleaning time can be calculated by substituting the continuous burning time into a preset formula. Alternatively, the duration range of the continuous burning time can be determined, and the baseline cleaning time can be determined based on the duration range.

[0102] Here, the target compensation parameter can be the correction magnitude or correction ratio of the baseline cleaning time. The target cleaning time can be obtained by increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the baseline cleaning time based on the target compensation parameter. The target cleaning time can be greater than, equal to, or less than the baseline cleaning time.

[0103] In some implementations, a correction parameter can be determined based on a first temperature difference value and a second temperature difference value. The reference compensation parameter is then corrected based on the correction parameter to obtain the target compensation parameter. The sum of the reference compensation parameter and the correction parameter is the target compensation parameter. Alternatively, the product of the reference compensation parameter and the correction parameter can be used as the target compensation parameter. In other implementations, a reference compensation parameter can be determined based on a first temperature difference value, a correction parameter can be determined based on a second temperature difference value, and the reference compensation parameter can be corrected based on the correction parameter to obtain the target compensation parameter.

[0104] In this embodiment, the baseline cleaning time is corrected according to the target compensation parameter to obtain a reference cleaning time; the minimum value between the reference cleaning time and the maximum cleaning time is determined to be the target cleaning time. The maximum cleaning time is a set maximum safe cleaning time threshold (e.g., 120 seconds). Based on this, the cleaning effect and the safety requirements of the gas water heater can be effectively balanced. In some other implementations, after obtaining the reference cleaning time, it can be directly determined as the target cleaning time.

[0105] In this embodiment, the first temperature difference value reflects the amount of condensate formed corresponding to the current inlet water temperature under the benchmark operating condition. The second temperature difference value reflects the difference between the current operating condition and the benchmark operating condition. Therefore, the combination of the first and second temperature difference values ​​can accurately reflect the amount of condensate generated under the current actual operating condition. Thus, by combining the first and second temperature difference values ​​with the continuous combustion time to determine the target cleaning time, the cleaning time can be precisely matched with the condensate cleaning requirements, ensuring that the cleaning time is not too long, thus avoiding energy consumption and noise generation, and also ensuring that the cleaning time is not too short, thus affecting the cleaning effect. This further balances improving the cleaning effect and energy-saving and noise-reducing effect of the gas water heater.

[0106] In other embodiments, a first reference cleaning time may be determined based on a first temperature difference value and a second temperature difference value, a second reference cleaning time may be determined based on the duration of continuous combustion, and a target cleaning time may be determined based on the first reference cleaning time and the second reference cleaning time.

[0107] In one embodiment, the baseline cleaning time is T1, and the continuous combustion time is T, then T1 = Wherein, α is the base time conversion ratio, which characterizes the inherent physical ratio between the dehumidification and heat dissipation rate and the combustion heat storage and condensation rate of the gas water heater under baseline operating conditions. In this embodiment, the base time conversion ratio α ranges from 0.05 to 0.20, for example, it can be 0.08, 0.1, 0.15, 0.18, 0.2, etc. Based on this relationship between T1 and T, the continuous combustion duration T can be linearly converted into a baseline cleaning duration that meets the basic dehumidification requirements, ensuring the cleaning effect under baseline operating conditions while avoiding the waste of fan energy caused by blindly setting long delays.

[0108] In one embodiment, the process of determining the target compensation parameter is as follows: determining the target correction parameter based on the first temperature difference value and the corresponding first weighting coefficient, and the second temperature difference value and the corresponding second weighting coefficient; correcting the benchmark compensation parameter based on the target correction parameter to obtain the target compensation parameter; wherein, the first weighting coefficient is greater than the second weighting coefficient.

[0109] In this embodiment, the value range of the first weighting coefficient is 0.015 to 0.030, and the value range of the second weighting coefficient is 0.005 to 0.015.

[0110] In this embodiment, the first weighting coefficient and the second weighting coefficient can be pre-determined based on thermal bench test data. In other implementations, they can also be determined according to the actual operating conditions of the gas water heater.

[0111] Here, the compensation weight for inlet water temperature is greater than that for ambient temperature. This can accurately characterize the working condition where the cooling effect of inlet water temperature on the heat exchanger wall temperature is much greater than that of ambient air. This further improves the accuracy of the target cleaning time, so as to achieve an effective balance between cleaning effect and energy saving and noise reduction.

[0112] In one embodiment, the target cleaning time is greater than or equal to the baseline cleaning time.

[0113] In this embodiment, the target compensation parameter is K, the baseline cleaning time is T1, the reference cleaning time is K*T1, the baseline compensation parameter is 1, and the sum of the baseline compensation parameter and the target correction parameter is the target compensation parameter. Based on this, a first correction parameter is determined according to a first temperature difference value and a first weighting coefficient, and a second correction parameter is determined according to a second temperature difference value and a second weighting coefficient. The sum of the first correction parameter and the second correction parameter can be the target correction parameter. Wherein, the first correction parameter = Second correction parameter = , This is the condensation temperature. For ambient temperature, The inlet water temperature, As the first weighting coefficient, This is the second weighting coefficient. This is the first temperature difference value. The second temperature difference value is used. The max() function ensures that when the current ambient temperature is higher than the ambient temperature in the baseline operating condition, no negative compensation will occur, and the target cleaning time will not be lower than the baseline cleaning time.

[0114] In some implementations, the first correction parameter = Second correction parameter = Based on this, when K*T1 is less than the reference cleaning time, the reference cleaning time can be determined as the target cleaning time, or the minimum value between the reference cleaning time and the maximum cleaning time can be determined as the target cleaning time; when K*T1 is greater than or equal to the reference cleaning time, K*T1 can be determined as the reference cleaning time, or the minimum value between K*T1 and the maximum cleaning time can be determined as the target cleaning time.

[0115] In this embodiment, the target cleaning time is not less than the baseline cleaning time, which helps to ensure that the condensate is cleaned up and improves the cleaning effect.

[0116] Based on any of the above embodiments, in the second embodiment of this application, the same or similar content as the above embodiments can be referred to the above description, and will not be repeated hereafter. Based on this, please refer to... Figure 6 The target cleaning time is less than or equal to the maximum cleaning time. After the step of controlling the gas water heater to stop combustion, the method further includes: Step S101: Determine whether the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature; When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, step S40 is executed; when the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, steps S20 and S30 are executed.

[0117] Step S40: Control the gas water heater to operate in cleaning mode according to the preset cleaning time, wherein the preset cleaning time is less than the maximum cleaning time.

[0118] The inlet water temperature and continuous combustion duration can be obtained when the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, or they can be obtained simultaneously with the ambient temperature.

[0119] The preset temperature is set to the critical temperature that distinguishes whether the heat exchanger has a risk of freezing. For example, it can be 0 degrees Celsius.

[0120] The preset cleaning time is the total time required for the cleaning mode to run. The preset cleaning time can be 30%-50% less than the maximum cleaning time mentioned above. For example, the preset cleaning time is 30 seconds, and the maximum cleaning time is 120 seconds, etc.

[0121] The gas water heater stops operating when the preset cleaning time is reached.

[0122] In this embodiment, since prolonged inhalation of cold outdoor air or backdraft of cold air in extremely cold northern regions can cause freezing hazards, the above method can prevent the water temperature inside the heat exchanger from dropping to the freezing point and freezing.

[0123] In one embodiment, the step of controlling the gas water heater's cleaning mode according to a preset cleaning duration further includes: When the temperature difference between the current inlet water temperature and the freezing temperature of the gas water heater is less than or equal to the preset temperature difference, the gas water heater is controlled to stop running the cleaning mode, and the heating module in the gas water heater is controlled to turn on to heat the water circuit of the gas water heater.

[0124] During the cleaning process, if the temperature difference between the current inlet water temperature and the freezing temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature difference, it indicates that the pipe is about to freeze or has already frozen. At this time, stop cleaning and start the heating module to heat the pipe. This can effectively ensure that the water pipe will not freeze and crack, and reduce the damage to the gas water heater due to freezing.

[0125] Based on any of the above embodiments, in the third embodiment of this application, the same or similar content as the above embodiments can be referred to the above description, and will not be repeated hereafter. Based on this, please refer to... Figure 7 In the cleaning mode, the fan in the gas water heater is turned on, and the step of controlling the gas water heater to operate the cleaning mode according to the target cleaning duration includes: Step S31: Perform a purging operation according to the purging duration to discharge the residue inside the gas water heater to the outside of the gas water heater. The purging operation includes the fan running at a purging speed. Step S32: Perform a drying operation according to the drying time to dry the inside of the gas water heater. The drying operation includes the fan running at a drying speed. The sum of the purging time and the drying time is the target cleaning time, and the purging speed is greater than the drying speed.

[0126] The residue here includes condensate and carbon deposits.

[0127] The purging time is the total operation time of the purging operation, and the drying time is the total operation time of the drying operation.

[0128] If the purging operation time reaches the purging time limit during step S31, step S32 can be executed.

[0129] A purging speed greater than 40% of the fan's rated speed (i.e., maximum speed) is considered a medium-to-high speed condition; a drying speed less than or equal to 40% of the fan's rated speed is considered a low speed condition. For example, a purging speed of 25% of the maximum speed and a drying speed of 25% of the maximum speed are considered low speed conditions.

[0130] In this embodiment, the purging time is less than or equal to the drying time. For example, the purging time is 30% of the target cleaning time, and the drying time is 70% of the target cleaning time.

[0131] In this embodiment, the fan first operates at high speed, generating a high-speed airflow that quickly blows off and discharges the larger condensate droplets and loose carbon deposits condensed on the fin surface to the outside. Then, the residual heat from the heat exchanger body, combined with a gentle breeze, slowly removes any remaining moisture, achieving thorough drying. This also significantly reduces fan noise after combustion stops. Therefore, it helps ensure that both condensate and carbon deposits are thoroughly cleaned, improving the cleaning effect. The blowing stage is shorter than the drying stage, which helps maintain cleaning efficiency while reducing noise.

[0132] In other embodiments, the purging time may be longer than the drying time, and the purging speed may be less than or equal to the drying speed.

[0133] In one feasible implementation, the purging operation includes: the fan operating at the purging speed, and the second air vane being located at the second position, or the second air vane reciprocating between the first position and the second position; the drying operation includes the fan operating at the drying speed, and the second air vane operating at the first position.

[0134] When the second air deflector is in the first position, the first air vent and the second air vent are aligned one-to-one; when the second air deflector is in the second position, the first air vent and the second air vent are misaligned and connected.

[0135] During the operation of the blower at the purging speed, after the second air deflector is switched from the first position to the second position, the second air deflector can maintain the second position until the purging time is reached.

[0136] During the operation of the blower at the purging speed, the second air deflector switches from the first position to the second position and then moves back to the first position, repeating this cycle until the required purging time is reached. During this reciprocating movement, the second air deflector may not stop at either the first or second position, or it may stop at at least one of them. The dwell time of the second air deflector at the first position may be greater than, equal to, or less than the dwell time at the second position. A longer dwell time at the second position compared to the first position improves turbulence and thus enhances the cleaning effect.

[0137] During the purging process, the fan can operate at a fixed speed or a variable speed. The fan speed can be a pre-set fixed speed, or it can be determined based on the actual operating conditions of the gas water heater. For example, the purging speed can be determined at different times based on the duration of continuous combustion before the gas water heater stops burning, thus ensuring effective purging while saving energy and reducing noise.

[0138] The position of the second air vane can be controlled by the control device, which controls the operation of the drive mechanism connected to the second air vane.

[0139] In this embodiment, when the gas water heater stops burning, the second air vane moves to the second position, and the first and second vents are misaligned and connected. The originally neatly arranged airflow channels are partially blocked, forcing the airflow to change direction and meander through the misaligned openings, forming an irregular and turbulent airflow pattern. This turbulent airflow is multidirectional and can wash over all surfaces of the heat exchanger fins, including gaps and corners that traditional direct-flow airflow cannot reach, reducing cleaning dead zones and effectively loosening and blowing off carbon deposits and residual condensate adhering to the fins. Based on this, the combustion effect can be guaranteed while improving the cleaning effect of carbon deposits and residual condensate on the heat exchanger surface. When the gas water heater stops burning, the second air vane moves back and forth between the first and second positions. This causes the airflow to alternate between turbulent and direct-flow states, producing a pulse-like cleaning effect. On the other hand, the mechanical movement of the second air vane itself also disturbs the airflow, further enhancing the turbulence intensity and improving the cleaning effect. During the drying process, the gas water heater is in a stable direct-flow state, which is conducive to thoroughly drying the gas water heater.

[0140] In one embodiment, the step of controlling the second air vane to reciprocate between the first position and the second position includes: determining a target reciprocating frequency based on the current rotational speed of the fan; and controlling the second air vane to reciprocate between the first position and the second position based on the target reciprocating frequency.

[0141] The target reciprocating frequency is set to form a frequency coupling with the airflow disturbance frequency driven by the fan, thereby generating airflow resonance. In this embodiment, the current rotational speed N of the fan and the target reciprocating frequency F satisfy the following relationship: F ​​= k × N, where the value of k ranges from [0.01, 0.1], and k is the conversion coefficient between the reciprocating frequency of the second guide plate and the fan speed. For example, k can be 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09, etc.

[0142] After obtaining the target reciprocating frequency, the control device can output the corresponding control pulse to the drive mechanism, so that the drive mechanism drives the second wind vane to reciprocate between the first position and the second position.

[0143] In this embodiment, the target reciprocating frequency of the second air vane during its reciprocating movement between the first and second positions is set to be adapted to the fan speed, which helps to effectively enhance the scouring effect of the turbulence generated during the movement of the second air vane. Specifically, F and N satisfy the above relationship, ensuring that the pulsed airflow passing through the first and second vents matches the inherent aerodynamic characteristics of the system cavity to generate a "resonant scouring effect," thus significantly improving the cleaning effect.

[0144] In one embodiment, during the purging operation, the second air deflector can be first controlled to move from the first position to the second position and maintain in the second position; then the fan can be controlled to remain on, and the second air deflector can be controlled to move back and forth between the first position and the second position.

[0145] The purging phase may include a draining phase and a carbon deposit cleaning phase. The second air deflector switching and maintaining operation in the second position constitutes the draining phase, while the second air deflector reciprocating between the first and second positions constitutes the carbon deposit cleaning phase. The total duration of the draining and carbon deposit cleaning phases is the purging duration.

[0146] During the drainage stage, the second air vane is in the second position. Driven by the fan, it works in conjunction with the turbulent flow of the air intake structure to blow away the residual condensate inside the gas water heater.

[0147] When the burner stops burning, the liquid draining stage can begin. The second air deflector can immediately switch to the second position and remain in that position until a first condition is met. Then, the carbon deposit cleaning stage can begin, where the second air deflector is controlled to move back and forth between the first and second positions. For example, the first condition may include the second air deflector remaining in the second position for a specified duration. The first duration can be a pre-set fixed duration or a duration determined based on the actual operating conditions of the gas water heater, such as the duration of continuous combustion before the gas water heater stops burning.

[0148] During the carbon deposit cleaning stage, the second air vane moves back and forth, allowing the airflow to alternate between turbulent and direct flow states, generating pulsed airflow to flush away the carbon deposits inside the gas water heater and remove them.

[0149] During the carbon deposit cleaning stage, drying operations can be performed based on the drying time when the second condition is met. The second condition may include the duration for which the second air vane reciprocates between the first and second positions for a certain period of time. The second duration can be a preset fixed duration or a duration determined based on the actual operating conditions of the gas water heater, such as the duration of continuous combustion before the gas water heater stops burning. The first duration can be greater than, equal to, or less than the second duration. In this embodiment, the first duration can be less than the second duration to ensure the cleaning effect of the gas water heater while reducing noise and energy consumption.

[0150] In this embodiment, the above method can ensure that both condensate and carbon deposits can be completely removed, further improving the cleanliness of the gas water heater's interior.

[0151] In one feasible implementation, the purging speed during the draining stage is a first speed, and the purging speed during the carbon deposit cleaning stage is a second speed.

[0152] During the purging operation, the blower is first controlled to remain on at a first rotational speed, and the second air deflector is controlled to move from the first position to the second position and remain at the second position; then the blower is controlled to remain on at a second rotational speed, and the second air deflector is controlled to reciprocate between the first position and the second position; wherein, the first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.

[0153] The first speed range can be 80%–100% of the fan's maximum speed, and the second speed range can be 40%–80% of the fan's maximum speed. For example, the first speed is the maximum speed, and the second speed is 50% of the maximum speed, and so on.

[0154] The first and second speeds can be preset fixed speeds, or they can be determined based on the actual conditions of the gas water heater. For example, the first and second speeds can be determined based on the duration of continuous combustion before the gas water heater stops burning, and so on.

[0155] Both the first and second rotational speeds are greater than the aforementioned drying speeds.

[0156] In this embodiment, the fan operates at high speed during the liquid drainage stage to generate a strong local narrow tube effect that blows away large water droplets. During the carbon deposit cleaning stage, the fan operates at a relatively low speed, which helps the fan and the air intake structure to generate a resonant pulse, so that stubborn carbon deposits can be removed, effectively improving the cleaning effect of the gas water heater.

[0157] In other embodiments, the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed may be equal, or the first rotational speed may be less than the second rotational speed.

[0158] To intuitively understand the control method of the gas water heater in this application, an application example is as follows: Step S1: Obtain the continuous combustion time of the gas water heater before it stops burning, the inlet water temperature of the gas water heater, and the ambient temperature of the environment where the gas water heater is located; Step S2: Determine whether the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature; If the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, proceed to step S3; if the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, proceed to step S4. Step S3: Control the gas water heater to run the cleaning mode according to the preset cleaning time (e.g., 30 seconds). During the cleaning mode operation, the second air plate is in the first position and the fan runs at low speed. When the temperature difference between the current inlet water temperature and the freezing temperature of the gas water heater is less than or equal to the preset temperature difference (e.g., 2 degrees), the heating module is turned on to heat the water circuit of the gas water heater. Step S4: Determine the target cleaning time based on the continuous burning time, inlet water temperature, and ambient temperature; Step S5: Control the gas water heater to operate the cleaning mode according to the target cleaning duration: During the purging phase, the runtime is the purging time = target cleaning time * 30% mentioned above. The fan runs at its highest speed, and the second air vane is located in the second position or reciprocates between the first and second positions to generate strong turbulence. The gas water heater is in the purging phase when performing the purging operation. During the drying stage, the runtime is equal to 70% of the target cleaning time, the blower operates at its lowest speed, and the second air deflector is in the first position to generate a steady, gentle breeze. The gas water heater is in the drying stage when performing the drying operation.

[0159] Step S6: When the total cleaning time reaches the target cleaning time, the fan stops and the gas water heater enters standby mode.

[0160] It should be noted that the above examples are only for understanding this application and do not constitute a limitation on the control method of the gas water heater of this application. Any simple modifications based on this technical concept are within the protection scope of this application.

[0161] This application provides a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions (i.e., a computer program) stored thereon, the computer-readable program instructions being used to execute the control method of the gas water heater in the above embodiments.

[0162] The computer-readable storage medium provided in this application may be, for example, a USB flash drive, but is not limited to, electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, devices, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to: electrical connections having one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fiber, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof. In this embodiment, the computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium containing or storing a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, system, or device. The program code contained on the computer-readable storage medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to: wires, optical cables, RF (Radio Frequency), etc., or any suitable combination thereof.

[0163] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium may be included in the gas water heater; or it may exist independently and not be installed in the gas water heater.

[0164] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium carries one or more programs, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute the processes in the aforementioned control method embodiment for a gas water heater.

[0165] Computer program code for performing the operations of this application can be written in one or more programming languages ​​or a combination thereof, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, Smalltalk, and C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" language or similar programming languages. The program code can be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In cases involving remote computers, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer via any type of network—including a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN)—or can be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0166] The readable storage medium provided in this application is a computer-readable storage medium that stores computer-readable program instructions (i.e., a computer program) for executing the control method of the gas water heater described above. This solves the technical problem of how to balance improving the cleaning effect and energy-saving and noise-reducing effect of the gas water heater. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the computer-readable storage medium provided in this application are the same as those of the control method of the gas water heater provided in the above embodiments, and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0167] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of this application. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions indicated in the blocks may occur in a different order than those indicated in the drawings. For example, two consecutively indicated blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or operation, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0168] It should be understood that the various parts disclosed in this application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Modules described in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in software or hardware. The names of modules do not necessarily limit the specific unit itself. In the description of the above embodiments, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0169] All actions involving the acquisition of signals, information, or data in this application are carried out in accordance with the relevant data protection laws and policies of the country where the application is located, and with the authorization of the owner of the relevant device.

[0170] The above descriptions are merely some embodiments of this application and do not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of this application and the content of this specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A control method for a gas water heater, characterized in that, The gas water heater includes, from bottom to top, an air inlet structure, a burner, a heat exchanger, and a fan. The air inlet structure includes a first air plate and a second air plate. The first air plate has multiple first vent holes, and the second air plate has multiple second vent holes. When the second air plate is in a first position, the first vent holes and the second vent holes are aligned one-to-one. When the second air plate is in a second position, the first vent holes and the second vent holes are misaligned and connected. The control method of the gas water heater includes: Control the gas water heater to stop burning, and obtain the continuous burning duration before the gas water heater stops burning, the inlet water temperature of the gas water heater, and the ambient temperature of the environment where the gas water heater is located; The target cleaning time for the gas water heater is determined based on the continuous combustion duration, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature. The gas water heater is controlled to operate the cleaning mode according to the target cleaning time. The second air vane is configured to first move to the second position and then move between the first position and the second position during the blowing operation in the cleaning mode. The step of determining the target cleaning time of the gas water heater based on the continuous combustion duration, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature includes: A first temperature difference between the condensation temperature of the gas water heater and the inlet water temperature is determined, and a second temperature difference between the condensation temperature of the gas water heater and the ambient temperature is determined. The condensation temperature is a pre-set critical temperature at which condensate forms on the surface of the heat exchanger under reference operating conditions. The baseline cleaning time for the dehumidification requirement of the gas water heater is determined based on the continuous combustion duration, and the target compensation parameter is determined based on the first temperature difference value and the second temperature difference value. The target cleaning time is determined based on the baseline cleaning time and the target compensation parameters.

2. The control method for a gas water heater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the target cleaning time based on the baseline cleaning time and the target compensation parameter includes: The reference cleaning time is obtained by correcting the baseline cleaning time based on the target compensation parameters. The minimum value between the reference cleaning time and the maximum cleaning time is determined to be the target cleaning time.

3. The control method for a gas water heater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The target cleaning time is greater than or equal to the baseline cleaning time; And / or, the step of determining the target compensation parameter based on the first temperature difference value and the second temperature difference value includes: The target correction parameter is determined based on the first temperature difference value and the corresponding first weighting coefficient, and the second temperature difference value and the corresponding second weighting coefficient. The target compensation parameters are obtained by correcting the benchmark compensation parameters based on the target correction parameters. Wherein, the first weighting coefficient is greater than the second weighting coefficient.

4. The control method for a gas water heater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After the step of controlling the gas water heater to stop combustion, where the target cleaning time is less than or equal to the maximum cleaning time, the method further includes: When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, the gas water heater is controlled to operate in cleaning mode according to the preset cleaning time, and the preset cleaning time is less than the maximum cleaning time; When the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, the step of determining the target cleaning time of the gas water heater based on the continuous combustion time, the inlet water temperature, and the ambient temperature is executed.

5. The control method for a gas water heater as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The step of controlling the gas water heater's cleaning mode according to a preset cleaning duration also includes: When the temperature difference between the current inlet water temperature and the freezing temperature of the gas water heater is less than or equal to the preset temperature difference, the gas water heater is controlled to stop running the cleaning mode, and the heating module in the gas water heater is controlled to turn on to heat the water circuit of the gas water heater.

6. The control method for a gas water heater as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, In the cleaning mode, the fan in the gas water heater is turned on, and the step of controlling the gas water heater to operate the cleaning mode according to the target cleaning duration includes: The purging operation is performed according to the purging duration to discharge the residue inside the gas water heater to the outside of the gas water heater. The purging operation also includes the fan running at the purging speed. A drying operation is performed according to the drying time to dry the inside of the gas water heater. The drying operation includes the fan running at a drying speed. The sum of the purging time and the drying time is the target cleaning time, and the purging speed is greater than the drying speed.

7. The control method for a gas water heater as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The purging time is less than or equal to the drying time; And / or, The drying operation includes: the fan operating at the drying speed, and the second air deflector operating at the first position.

8. A gas water heater, characterized in that, The gas water heater includes: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program being configured to implement the steps of the control method for the gas water heater as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program is stored on the storage medium. When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the control method for a gas water heater as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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