A steam equipment water shortage protection control method and system, a steam equipment and a medium

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of intelligent control, and discloses a steam equipment water shortage protection control method and system, steam equipment and a medium, the steam equipment comprising a steam generator, the method comprising the following steps: in response to heating operation of the steam equipment, acquiring the temperature of the steam generator and the air pressure in the cavity of the steam equipment; determining the temperature change rate of the steam generator according to the temperature, and determining the air pressure change rate in the cavity according to the air pressure; determining whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the temperature change rate, the air pressure change rate and the current temperature of the steam generator; and when it is determined that the steam equipment is in the water shortage state, controlling the steam equipment to perform a water shortage protection operation. The application can effectively eliminate the interference of normal heating and temperature rising and other non-water shortage working conditions by simultaneously monitoring the temperature change rate and the air pressure change rate, thereby greatly reducing the misjudgment rate, improving the accuracy and reliability of water shortage judgment, and triggering protection earlier before dry burning occurs, thereby improving the safety of the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of intelligent control technology, specifically to a method, system, steam equipment, and medium for water shortage protection control of steam equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Current steam-equipped appliances, such as steam ovens, heat water to generate steam for cooking food. The water level inside the appliance directly affects operational safety and cooking results.

[0003] In existing technologies, water shortage detection in steam ovens is mostly based on temperature parameters. By monitoring the temperature of the steam generator or heating element, water shortage is determined and protection is triggered when the temperature reaches a preset threshold.

[0004] However, the aforementioned method of determining water shortage based solely on a single temperature parameter is susceptible to environmental interference, resulting in issues such as response lag, false positives, or false negatives. It cannot accurately distinguish between normal heating and genuine water shortage conditions. Furthermore, the logic of determining water shortage based on a single parameter lacks sufficient correspondence with the physical process of steam generation, leading to weak interpretability of the results and difficulty in adapting to the different operating conditions of various equipment modes. This, to some extent, affects the operational reliability of the equipment and the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a method, system, steam equipment, and medium for water shortage protection control of steam equipment, in order to solve the problem mentioned in the above-mentioned technical background that the existing steam equipment relies on a single parameter for water shortage judgment, which has many defects, resulting in insufficient safety and reliability of equipment operation and seriously affecting the user experience.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a water shortage protection control method for a steam equipment, the steam equipment including a steam generator, the method comprising: In response to the heating operation of the steam equipment, the temperature of the steam generator and the gas pressure inside the steam equipment cavity are obtained; The rate of temperature change of the steam generator is determined based on temperature, and the rate of pressure change inside the cavity is determined based on pressure. Based on the rate of temperature change, the rate of gas pressure change, and the current temperature of the steam generator, determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state. When it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state, the steam equipment is controlled to perform a water shortage protection operation; Among these, determining whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the rate of temperature change, the rate of gas pressure change, and the current temperature of the steam generator includes: Based on the rate of temperature change and the rate of gas pressure change, determine whether the steam generator produces effective steam; When it is determined that the steam generator is not producing effective steam, the current temperature of the steam generator is used to determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state.

[0007] This invention combines the temperature change rate of the steam generator, the chamber pressure change rate, and the current temperature for multi-dimensional collaborative diagnosis. This effectively distinguishes between normal heating and true water shortage conditions, reducing the probability of misjudgments and missed judgments caused by factors such as the preheating stage and environmental fluctuations, significantly improving the accuracy of water shortage determination. Furthermore, by identifying water shortage characteristics through the dynamic change rates of temperature and pressure, a judgment can be made without waiting for the temperature to rise to an extremely high dry-burning threshold, triggering water shortage protection actions earlier and effectively preventing the risk of steam generator dry-burning, thus improving equipment operational safety. Moreover, the judgment logic is based on the physical principle that "when there is water, heat is absorbed by the water, the temperature rise is gradual, and steam is generated, leading to an increase in pressure; when there is no water, heat cannot be absorbed, the temperature rise accelerates rapidly, and no steam is generated, leading to stagnant pressure," providing a clear physical basis and interpretability for water shortage determination.

[0008] In one optional implementation, determining whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator further includes: Determine if the rate of temperature change is greater than a preset temperature threshold. When the rate of temperature change is greater than a preset temperature threshold, determine whether the rate of air pressure change is less than a preset air pressure threshold. When the rate of change of air pressure is less than the preset air pressure threshold, it is determined that the steam generator has not generated effective steam, and it is determined whether the current temperature of the steam generator is greater than the preset water shortage temperature threshold. If the current temperature of the steam generator is greater than the preset water shortage temperature threshold and continues for a preset duration, the steam equipment is determined to be in a water shortage state.

[0009] This invention employs a three-tiered progressive judgment logic: initial screening based on temperature change rate, verification of pressure change rate, and confirmation of absolute temperature value and time delay. This progressively filters out interfering conditions such as normal preheating and instantaneous data fluctuations, avoiding false triggers caused by single parameter deviations and significantly improving the accuracy of water shortage condition judgment. Furthermore, based on the judgment sequence of "abnormal temperature rise first, then insufficient pressure response, and finally sustained high temperature," it precisely corresponds to the physical evolution process under water shortage conditions: "loss of water cooling buffer, insufficient effective steam production, and aggravated dry burning and overheating." The judgment mechanism is highly consistent with the inherent laws of steam generation, resulting in highly interpretable results.

[0010] In one optional implementation, the steam equipment water shortage protection control method further includes: Determine the current operating mode of the steam equipment, which includes at least the steaming mode and the descaling mode; Set at least one of the preset temperature threshold, preset air pressure threshold, and preset water shortage temperature threshold according to the operating mode.

[0011] This invention configures corresponding judgment thresholds for different operating modes such as steaming and descaling, based on their working characteristics and steam production patterns. This avoids the problem that a uniform threshold cannot be adapted to different operating conditions, and ensures that the water shortage judgment in each mode can match the corresponding operating state. This significantly reduces the probability of misjudgment and missed judgment under different operating conditions, thereby effectively improving the accuracy of water shortage judgment under multiple operating conditions.

[0012] In one optional embodiment, the steam equipment further includes a heating element and a water supply pump; wherein the heating element is disposed at the steam generator for heating the water inside the steam generator; the water supply pump is connected between the water source and the steam generator for supplying water to the steam generator; controlling the steam equipment to perform a water shortage protection operation includes: Control the heating element and water supply pump to stop operating; And / or, control the steam equipment to provide a water shortage warning.

[0013] This invention simultaneously stops the heating element and the water pump upon detecting a water shortage. This timely cuts off the heat source, preventing the steam generator from burning dry and thus avoiding overheating and damage to the heating components. It also prevents component wear caused by the pump running dry. By cutting off risks from both the heat source and water supply ends, it comprehensively protects the core components of the equipment and extends its service life. Furthermore, by issuing a water shortage alert to the user, it provides clear feedback on the equipment's abnormal operating status, facilitating timely water replenishment and preventing unexpected shutdowns that could disrupt operation, thus improving the convenience and user-friendliness of the equipment.

[0014] In one optional implementation, the steam equipment water shortage protection control method further includes: Control the water supply pump to supply water to the steam generator and monitor the pressure changes inside the steam equipment cavity; Gas pressure anomalies are detected by utilizing changes in gas pressure, and the heating operation of the steam equipment is controlled when no gas pressure anomalies are detected.

[0015] This invention performs anomaly detection of air pressure before starting heating operation, which can verify the effectiveness of the air pressure detection path and water supply system in advance, avoiding misjudgment or missed judgment of subsequent water shortage due to sensor or path failure, thereby ensuring the reliability of subsequent water shortage diagnosis.

[0016] In one optional implementation, the steam equipment water shortage protection control method further includes: Obtain the inlet water flow rate of the steam generator; Based on the inlet water flow rate, temperature change rate, and gas pressure change rate, determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state. When the inlet water flow rate is lower than the preset flow rate threshold, the temperature change rate is greater than the preset temperature threshold, and the gas pressure change rate is less than the preset gas pressure threshold, the steam equipment is determined to be in a water shortage state.

[0017] This invention introduces the inlet flow rate parameter on the basis of dual-parameter diagnosis of temperature change rate and air pressure change rate, forming a multi-dimensional collaborative judgment mechanism of water supply end, heating end and steam generation end. Through multi-feature cross-validation, it further filters out interference factors such as operating condition fluctuations and sensor drift, significantly reducing the probability of misjudgment and missed judgment of water shortage, and further improving the credibility of water shortage status identification results.

[0018] Secondly, the present invention provides a water shortage protection control system for steam equipment, wherein the steam equipment includes a steam generator, and the system includes: The data acquisition module is used to acquire the temperature of the steam generator and the gas pressure inside the steam equipment cavity in response to the heating operation of the steam equipment; The rate of change determination module is used to determine the temperature change rate of the steam generator based on temperature, and the rate of change of gas pressure inside the cavity based on gas pressure. The water shortage detection module is used to determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator. The water shortage control module is used to control the steam equipment to perform water shortage protection operations when it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state. Among these, determining whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the rate of temperature change, the rate of gas pressure change, and the current temperature of the steam generator includes: Based on the rate of temperature change and the rate of gas pressure change, determine whether the steam generator produces effective steam; When it is determined that the steam generator is not producing effective steam, the current temperature of the steam generator is used to determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state.

[0019] This invention relates to a steam equipment water shortage protection control system. Through the orderly coordination of its modules, it automatically completes the entire process of temperature and pressure data acquisition, dynamic change rate calculation, multi-dimensional water shortage determination, and protection action triggering. This effectively replaces the traditional single-parameter judgment method, significantly improving the automation level and accuracy of water shortage detection. Furthermore, by identifying water shortage characteristics through the dynamic change rate of temperature and pressure, a judgment can be made without waiting for the temperature to rise to an extremely high dry-burning threshold, enabling earlier triggering of water shortage protection actions, effectively preventing the risk of steam generator dry-burning, and improving the safety of equipment operation.

[0020] Thirdly, the present invention provides a steam device, which includes a steam generator and a controller. The steam generator is used to generate steam. The controller includes a memory and a processor, which are interconnected. The memory stores computer instructions, and the processor executes the computer instructions to perform the steam device water shortage protection control method of the first aspect or any corresponding embodiment described above.

[0021] In one optional embodiment, the steam equipment further includes a heating element and a water supply pump; wherein the heating element is disposed at the steam generator for heating the water in the steam generator; the water supply pump is connected between the water source and the steam generator for supplying water to the steam generator; and / or, the steam equipment is a steam oven, a steam cabinet, or a humidifier.

[0022] Fourthly, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for causing a computer to execute the steam equipment water shortage protection control method of the first aspect or any corresponding embodiment described above. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart of the first method for water shortage protection control of steam equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the second process of the steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the controller according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a logic diagram of a steam oven with a water shortage protection control based on the coordinated diagnosis of temperature and air pressure. Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of a steam equipment water shortage protection control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling water shortage protection of steam equipment is provided. It should be noted that the steps shown in the flowchart in the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions. Furthermore, although a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described may be executed in a different order than that shown here.

[0027] This embodiment provides a water shortage protection control method for steam equipment, the steam equipment including a steam generator. Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart of the first method for water shortage protection control of steam equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the process includes the following steps: Step S101: In response to the heating operation of the steam equipment, the temperature of the steam generator and the gas pressure inside the steam equipment cavity are obtained.

[0028] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the start of the steam equipment's heating operation is used as the trigger condition to initiate the data acquisition. The data acquisition targets include two types of signals: the temperature of the steam generator itself (which can be acquired through a temperature sensor installed at the steam generator) and the air pressure inside the steam equipment cavity (which can be acquired through a pressure sensor installed inside the steam equipment cavity). This provides raw input data for subsequent calculations of the rate of change and water shortage judgment. Specifically, data acquisition is only initiated when the steam equipment is in heating operation; during non-heating phases, this set of data is not executed or used for water shortage judgment, thus avoiding misjudgments caused by invalid sampling.

[0029] Step S102: Determine the temperature change rate of the steam generator based on the temperature, and determine the pressure change rate inside the cavity based on the pressure.

[0030] In this embodiment, this step aims to use multiple sets of temperature and air pressure data obtained through time-series acquisition to calculate the rate of change of temperature and air pressure over time, i.e., the rate of change of temperature and the rate of change of air pressure.

[0031] Step S103: Based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator, determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state.

[0032] In this embodiment, this step combines three indicators—the rate of temperature rise, the rate of air pressure change, and the instantaneous absolute temperature value—to comprehensively identify the operating conditions, in order to distinguish between the normal heating and heating of the equipment and the actual dry burning due to water shortage. This avoids misjudgment caused by relying solely on a single temperature threshold, and thus outputs a result determining whether the equipment is short of water.

[0033] It should be noted that this step may include: determining whether the steam generator is producing effective steam based on the rate of temperature change and the rate of gas pressure change; and if it is determined that the steam generator is not producing effective steam, determining whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the current temperature of the steam generator.

[0034] In practical applications, during the initial stage of normal heating, the water temperature is still low, and the temperature change rate may be high, but the pressure change rate has not yet started. When the equipment is truly short of water, the lack of water to absorb heat leads to an extremely high temperature change rate, while the lack of steam generation causes the pressure change rate to stagnate. If only the increase in temperature change rate is considered at this time, it is difficult to distinguish between the initial stage of normal heating and the actual water shortage stage, which can easily lead to false alarms during the initial heating stage. Based on this, this embodiment identifies the abnormal state where the pressure in the cavity does not rise with the generation of steam by superimposing abnormal temperature change rate with abnormal pressure change rate, thereby determining that the steam generator is not generating effective steam (physical state judgment). Combined with the fact that the current temperature of the steam generator is continuously too high, it can be determined whether the current steam equipment is in a state of actual water shortage (equipment state judgment). Specifically, firstly, the temperature change rate and pressure change rate are used together to determine that the steam generator is not generating effective steam, and the current temperature of the steam generator is used as the final confirmation condition, which can further eliminate false triggering caused by instantaneous fluctuations or sensor noise; even if the temperature sensor drifts, as long as the pressure change rate is normal (indicating that steam is being generated), it will not be falsely judged as a water shortage.

[0035] Step S104: When it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state, control the steam equipment to perform a water shortage protection operation.

[0036] In this embodiment, if it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state, the equipment will be controlled to stop the original heating process and instead execute the preset protection logic, such as stopping heating to avoid safety risks such as dry burning; or outputting a water shortage alarm to inform the user of the abnormal situation.

[0037] The steam equipment water shortage protection control method provided in this embodiment combines the temperature change rate of the steam generator, the chamber pressure change rate, and the current temperature for multi-dimensional collaborative diagnosis. This effectively distinguishes between normal heating and actual water shortage conditions, reducing the probability of misjudgment and missed judgment caused by factors such as the preheating stage and environmental fluctuations, and significantly improving the accuracy of water shortage determination. Furthermore, by identifying water shortage characteristics through the dynamic change rate of temperature and pressure, a judgment can be made without waiting for the temperature to rise to an extremely high dry-burning threshold, triggering water shortage protection actions earlier and effectively preventing the risk of steam generator dry-burning, thus improving the safety of equipment operation. Moreover, the judgment logic is based on the physical principle that "when there is water, heat is absorbed by the water, the temperature rise is gradual, and steam is generated, leading to an increase in pressure; when there is no water, heat cannot be absorbed, the temperature rise accelerates rapidly, and no steam is generated, leading to stagnant pressure," giving the water shortage determination a clear physical basis and interpretability.

[0038] This embodiment provides a water shortage protection control method for steam equipment, the steam equipment including a steam generator. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a second process for a steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 2 As shown, the process includes the following steps: Step S201: In response to the heating operation of the steam equipment, the temperature of the steam generator and the gas pressure inside the steam equipment cavity are obtained.

[0039] It should be noted that in practical applications of steam equipment, fault states such as steam pipeline blockage, pressure sensor failure, and abnormal water supply may occur, causing the equipment to start heating operation directly with faults, which poses risks such as dry burning and component overheating damage. Therefore, to ensure safe operation of the equipment and reliable subsequent water shortage judgment, the steam equipment water shortage protection control method of this embodiment further includes the following before the steam equipment starts heating operation: Step a1: Control the water supply pump to supply water to the steam generator and monitor the pressure changes inside the steam equipment cavity.

[0040] In this embodiment, before the equipment heating is officially started, the water supply pump is driven to send water to the steam generator. By observing the change in the gas pressure in the chamber, the water supply, steam passage and gas pressure sensor are indirectly checked to see if they are normal. If the water supply is normal and the passage is unobstructed, the heating after water supply will generate steam and cause a change in gas pressure. This is used as a self-check basis to provide a reliable sensing basis for subsequent water shortage protection.

[0041] Step a2: Detect abnormal air pressure by utilizing air pressure changes, and control the heating operation of the steam equipment when no abnormal air pressure is detected.

[0042] In this embodiment, this step involves reading the time-series data of the cavity air pressure collected by the air pressure sensor and observing the magnitude of the air pressure change during that time period. If an expected increase in air pressure is detected, it indicates that the water supply, steam passage, and air pressure sensor are working normally. If the air pressure hardly changes, it is determined that there is a pipe blockage, water supply failure, or air pressure sensor malfunction, and the heating process is not initiated.

[0043] In this embodiment of the invention, heating is started only after confirming that there is no abnormal air pressure. This reduces the number of mid-operation shutdowns caused by faults, ensures the continuity of equipment operation, reduces additional losses caused by operating equipment with defects, helps extend the service life of the equipment, and improves the stability of equipment operation and user experience.

[0044] Step S202: Determine the temperature change rate of the steam generator based on the temperature, and determine the pressure change rate inside the chamber based on the pressure. For details, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 Step S102 of the illustrated embodiment will not be described again here.

[0045] Step S203: Based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator, determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state.

[0046] Specifically, step S203 includes: Step S2031: Determine whether the temperature change rate is greater than the preset temperature threshold.

[0047] Step S2032: When the rate of temperature change is greater than the preset temperature threshold, determine whether the rate of air pressure change is less than the preset air pressure threshold.

[0048] Step S2033: When the rate of change of air pressure is less than the preset air pressure threshold, it is determined that the steam generator has not generated effective steam, and it is determined whether the current temperature of the steam generator is greater than the preset water shortage temperature threshold.

[0049] Step S2034: When the current temperature of the steam generator is greater than the preset water shortage temperature threshold and continues for a preset duration, it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state.

[0050] In this embodiment, the specific values ​​of the preset temperature threshold, preset air pressure threshold, preset water shortage temperature threshold, and preset duration can be adaptively adjusted according to actual needs, and are not limited in detail here.

[0051] It should be noted that the dynamic change judgment logic based on the rate of temperature change and the rate of air pressure change in this embodiment can quickly capture early characteristics of water shortage and identify anomalies without waiting for the temperature to climb to extreme values, thus achieving early warning; the final stage design determines the current temperature, temperature threshold and duration of the steam generator, which can filter out invalid signals such as instantaneous jumps and brief interference, ensuring the stability and reliability of the judgment results.

[0052] Furthermore, this embodiment goes beyond a simple mapping of "alarm when parameters exceed thresholds." Instead, it first determines whether the steam generator has completed the physical process of converting water into steam, and then uses this to determine whether the equipment is short of water. This provides a clear physical basis and causal logic for water shortage determination. Specifically, by using the combined determination of "no effective steam generated" based on the rate of temperature change and the rate of pressure change, false alarms in the initial heating stage are effectively eliminated. This overcomes the limitation that a single temperature parameter cannot distinguish between "heating not yet effective" and "real water shortage," effectively differentiating between normal heating and true water shortage states. Finally, given that "no effective steam generated" has been established, if the current temperature exceeds the threshold and continues for a preset duration, a water shortage is finally determined. This significantly reduces the probability of false judgments caused by single sensor drift or response delay. Moreover, it eliminates the need to wait for the temperature to climb to an extremely high value to identify the water shortage trend, determining "no effective steam generated" before the temperature reaches its limit, thus triggering protection earlier and greatly reducing the risk of overheating and damage to the heating element.

[0053] In this embodiment of the invention, a three-level progressive judgment logic is designed: initial screening of temperature change rate, verification of gas pressure change rate, and confirmation of absolute temperature value and time delay. This progressively filters out interfering conditions such as normal preheating and instantaneous data fluctuations, avoiding false triggers caused by single parameter deviations and significantly improving the accuracy of water shortage state judgment. Furthermore, based on the judgment sequence of "first abnormal temperature rise, then insufficient gas pressure response, and finally sustained high temperature," it accurately corresponds to the physical evolution process of "loss of water cooling buffer, insufficient effective steam production, and aggravated dry burning and overheating" under water shortage conditions. The judgment mechanism is highly consistent with the inherent laws of steam generation, and the results are highly interpretable.

[0054] In practical applications, steam equipment has different operating modes such as steaming mode and descaling mode. The heating power, water consumption, steam production, and temperature rise characteristics of the equipment vary in each mode. Therefore, this embodiment does not use a uniform fixed threshold, but instead configures a matching water shortage judgment threshold for each mode to adapt to the operating characteristics of each mode. Therefore, the steam equipment water shortage protection control method of this embodiment also includes: Step b1: Determine the current operating mode of the steam equipment. The operating mode includes at least steaming mode and descaling mode.

[0055] In this embodiment, the current operating mode can be determined by reading the user's selected operating instructions. For example, if the user selects the steaming setting, it is identified as the steaming mode; if the user triggers the descaling function of the equipment, it is identified as the descaling mode. The identified mode information is output to the water shortage determination link to match a set of determination thresholds corresponding to the mode.

[0056] Step b2: Set at least one of the preset temperature threshold, preset air pressure threshold, and preset water shortage temperature threshold according to the operating mode.

[0057] In this embodiment, based on the identified current operating mode, one or more judgment thresholds corresponding to the mode are called from the device’s internal storage, such as preset temperature threshold, preset air pressure threshold, and preset water shortage temperature threshold, for subsequent water shortage logic comparison to adapt to the water shortage judgment of the current operating condition.

[0058] The embodiments of the present invention can achieve accurate water shortage identification and protection in different operating modes, which not only avoids accidental protection interruption of normal operation, but also avoids failure to identify and cause dry burning damage to the equipment, thus taking into account the continuity of equipment operation and service life, and greatly improving the user experience.

[0059] It should be noted that the inlet water flow rate directly reflects the status of the water supply chain, and can identify problems at the water supply end such as insufficient water supply from the pump and abnormalities in the inlet pipe. This compensates for the limitation that temperature and air pressure alone cannot reflect whether the water supply is abnormal. Therefore, the steam equipment water shortage protection control method in this embodiment also includes: Step c1: Obtain the inlet water flow rate of the steam generator.

[0060] In this embodiment, this step aims to collect the water flow rate to the steam generator and obtain the actual water intake at the water supply end as an input condition for water shortage judgment, to reflect whether the water supply is sufficient, and to complete the comprehensive water shortage judgment in conjunction with temperature and air pressure parameters.

[0061] It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the specific installation location of the flow sensor, and those skilled in the art can select a suitable method for obtaining the inlet flow rate according to the equipment structure.

[0062] Furthermore, since abnormal water flow often occurs earlier than significant changes in temperature and air pressure, monitoring water flow can detect potential problems at the water supply end in advance, identify risks before the equipment enters a state of severe water shortage, further move the protection point forward, and reduce the risk of dry burning damage to the steam generator.

[0063] Step c2: Based on the inlet water flow rate, temperature change rate, and gas pressure change rate, determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state.

[0064] In this embodiment, this step aims to comprehensively judge water shortage by combining three indicators: water inflow rate, temperature change rate, and gas pressure change rate. It can cross-verify from multiple dimensions such as water supply input, heating temperature rise, and steam production pressure, avoiding misjudgment of water shortage caused by abnormality of a single parameter, and thus outputting the true judgment result of whether the equipment is short of water.

[0065] Step c3: When the inlet water flow rate is lower than the preset flow rate threshold, the temperature change rate is greater than the preset temperature threshold, and the gas pressure change rate is less than the preset gas pressure threshold, the steam equipment is determined to be in a water shortage state.

[0066] In this embodiment, the specific value of the preset flow threshold can be adaptively adjusted according to actual needs. Specifically, water shortage is only determined when all three phenomena occur simultaneously: insufficient water intake on the water supply side, rapid temperature rise on the heating side, and slight increase in gas pressure on the steam production side. This effectively avoids false alarms of water shortage due to momentary interference from a single sensor, greatly improving the reliability of water shortage identification and adapting to more complex operating environments.

[0067] In this embodiment of the invention, by introducing the inlet flow rate parameter on the basis of dual-parameter diagnosis of temperature change rate and air pressure change rate, a multi-dimensional collaborative judgment mechanism of water supply end, heating end and steam generation end is formed. Through multi-feature cross-validation, interference factors such as operating condition fluctuation and sensor drift are further filtered out, which significantly reduces the probability of misjudgment and missed judgment of water shortage judgment and further improves the credibility of water shortage status identification results.

[0068] Step S204: When it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state, control the steam equipment to perform a water shortage protection operation.

[0069] In this embodiment, the steam equipment further includes a heating element and a water supply pump; wherein, the heating element is disposed at the steam generator and is used to heat the water in the steam generator; the water supply pump is connected between the water source and the steam generator and is used to supply water to the steam generator.

[0070] It should be noted that the heating element is responsible for heating the water inside the steam generator to produce steam; the water supply pump is responsible for delivering water from the water source to the steam generator; both are responsible for heat generation and water supply functions respectively, and are also the controlled objects of the water shortage protection operation. When a water shortage occurs, both can be controlled to avoid the risks of dry burning and pump running dry. Specifically, the above step S204 includes: Step S2041: When it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state, control the heating element and the water supply pump to stop operating; and / or control the steam equipment to issue a water shortage warning.

[0071] In this embodiment, the specific content of the water shortage warning can be adaptively adjusted according to actual needs, such as driving a buzzer to sound, lighting up a water shortage indicator light, or displaying a water shortage text alarm message on the screen.

[0072] It should be noted that this embodiment supports multiple execution forms, including separate shutdown protection, separate water shortage warning, and a combination of shutdown and warning. The protection logic can be flexibly configured according to different water shortage levels and different equipment application scenarios, so as to ensure safety while taking into account usage needs.

[0073] In this embodiment of the invention, upon determining a water shortage, the heating element and water pump are simultaneously stopped. This not only promptly cuts off the heat source, preventing the steam generator from continuously burning dry and thus avoiding overheating and damage to the heating components, but also prevents component wear caused by the water pump running dry. By simultaneously cutting off risks from both the heat source and water supply ends, the core components of the equipment are fully protected, extending its service life. Furthermore, by issuing a water shortage alert to the user, the abnormal operating status of the equipment is clearly indicated, facilitating timely water replenishment and preventing unexpected shutdowns that could disrupt usage, thus improving the convenience and user-friendliness of the equipment.

[0074] This embodiment provides a steam device, which includes a steam generator and a controller. The steam generator is used to produce steam. It should be noted that the steam device in this embodiment refers to a device with steam function, and the specific type of device is not limited, such as a steam oven.

[0075] In this embodiment, the steam equipment further includes a heating element and a water supply pump; wherein, the heating element is disposed at the steam generator and is used to heat the water in the steam generator; the water supply pump is connected between the water source and the steam generator and is used to supply water to the steam generator; and / or, the steam equipment is a steam oven, a steam cabinet, or a humidifier.

[0076] It should be noted that the heating element is installed in the steam generator cavity, heating the water inside when energized. One end of the water pump is connected to a water source, and the other end is connected to the steam generator's inlet. The controller controls the pump's start and stop to replenish water. This hardware and corresponding water shortage protection logic can be deployed in steam ovens, steam cabinets, or humidifiers. Taking a steam oven as an example, the steam generator is integrated inside the cavity; the water pump pumps water from the tank into the steam generator, and the heating element heats it to produce steam for the cavity. Taking a steam cabinet as an example, a high-power heating element, in conjunction with the water pump, supplies steam to the cabinet cavity. Taking a humidifier as an example, the water pump supplies water to the steam generation chamber, and the heating element heats it to produce steam. Note that when a water shortage is detected, the protection logic that shuts down the heating element and water pump, along with the water shortage warning, is executed uniformly.

[0077] In one specific embodiment, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3The controller includes one or more processors 310, a memory 320, and interfaces for connecting the components, including high-speed and low-speed interfaces. The components communicate with each other via different buses and can be mounted on a common motherboard or otherwise as required. The processors can process instructions executed within the controller, including instructions stored in or on memory to display graphical information of a GUI on external input / output devices (such as display devices coupled to the interfaces). In some alternative implementations, multiple processors and / or multiple buses can be used with multiple memories and multiple memory modules, if desired. Similarly, multiple controllers can be connected, each providing some of the necessary operations (e.g., as a server array, a group of blade servers, or a multiprocessor system). Figure 3 Take the 310 processor as an example.

[0078] Processor 310 may be a central processing unit, a network processor, or a combination thereof. Processor 310 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The programmable logic device may be a complex programmable logic device (CAMP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a general-purpose array logic (GPA), or any combination thereof.

[0079] The memory 320 stores instructions executable by at least one processor 310 to cause the at least one processor 310 to perform the method shown in the above embodiments.

[0080] The memory 320 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the controller. Furthermore, the memory 320 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some alternative embodiments, the memory 320 may optionally include memory remotely located relative to the processor 310, and these remote memories may be connected to the controller via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, corporate intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0081] The memory 320 may include volatile memory, such as random access memory; the memory may also include non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, hard disk or solid-state drive; the memory 320 may also include a combination of the above types of memory.

[0082] The controller also includes an input device 330 and an output device 340. The processor 310, memory 320, input device 330, and output device 340 can be connected via a bus or other means. Figure 3 Taking the example of a connection between China and Israel via a bus.

[0083] Input device 330 can receive input digital or character information, and generate signal inputs related to user settings and function control of the thermal power unit's operation control unit, such as a touch screen, keypad, mouse, trackpad, touchpad, indicator, one or more mouse buttons, trackball, joystick, etc. Output device 340 may include display devices, auxiliary lighting devices (e.g., LEDs), and haptic feedback devices (e.g., vibration motors). The aforementioned display devices include, but are not limited to, liquid crystal displays, light-emitting diodes, displays, and plasma displays. In some alternative embodiments, the display device may be a touch screen.

[0084] In one specific embodiment, a steam oven is taken as an example. Currently, steam ovens and other steam-heating cooking appliances typically rely on a single temperature sensor to determine water shortage. For example, during the operation of the steam generator, when the temperature of the heating element exceeds a certain threshold, it is determined to be water shortage and a protection mechanism is triggered. However, temperature sensors suffer from response delays and drift, easily leading to false alarms or missed alarms; a single temperature parameter cannot effectively distinguish between the state of "heating not yet effective" and "true water shortage," affecting the accuracy of the judgment; especially in special modes such as descaling, when the water pump runs continuously but no effective steam is generated, traditional methods struggle to identify the anomaly in a timely manner. Furthermore, the lack of a mechanism for judging the physical process of steam generation also reduces the interpretability of water shortage judgments. In summary, the above problems limit the safety and user experience of steam ovens during use.

[0085] Based on this, the corresponding control method of this embodiment is integrated into the steam oven in this embodiment, which can further ensure the control efficiency and user experience of the steam oven through the combined action of hardware and software. Specifically, a water shortage protection control scheme for steam ovens based on temperature and air pressure collaborative diagnosis is proposed, which is applicable to steam ovens containing a steam generator. The steam oven includes: a body (with a cavity formed inside), a steam generator (for generating steam and supplying steam to the cavity), a water pump (connected between a water source and the steam generator, for supplying water to the steam generator), a heating element (located at the steam generator, for heating the water in the steam generator), a temperature sensor (located at the steam generator, for detecting the temperature of the steam generator), an air pressure sensor (located in the cavity, for detecting the air pressure in the cavity), a flow sensor (optional, located in the water inlet passage of the steam generator, for detecting the water inlet flow), and a controller (electrically connected to the water pump, heating element, temperature sensor, air pressure sensor, and flow sensor respectively).

[0086] In one specific embodiment, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the water shortage protection control for a steam oven using a combined temperature and air pressure diagnostic system. It's important to note that the core logic of this solution involves multi-level progressive judgment based on temperature change rate, air pressure change rate, absolute temperature value, and duration to identify the steam oven's water shortage state and trigger protection, avoiding misjudgment based on a single parameter. As shown in the diagram, the specific process includes: 1. Process Startup.

[0087] In this embodiment, "steam oven heating operation" is used as the trigger point. After the device enters the heating working state, the entire set of water shortage detection logic is automatically started.

[0088] 2. Data collection.

[0089] In this embodiment, temperature T and air pressure P are collected in real time to provide raw data for subsequent calculations and judgments; the sampling is performed cyclically, and the process returns to this step for continuous monitoring after the detection is completed.

[0090] 3. Calculation of parameter change rate.

[0091] In this embodiment, two core dynamic parameters are calculated based on time-series sampling data, including: Temperature change rate Kt=dT / dt: The amount of temperature change per unit time, reflecting how fast the temperature rises; Pressure change rate Kp=dP / dt: The amount of pressure change per unit time, reflecting how quickly steam is generated and pressurized.

[0092] 4. First-level judgment: Initial screening based on temperature change rate.

[0093] In this embodiment, it is determined whether "Kt>heating threshold" is true. If not, the temperature rise is slow, which is a normal operating condition with water heating, and the process returns directly to the data acquisition stage to continue the loop monitoring. If the determination is true, the temperature rise is too fast, which may indicate a lack of water and dry burning, and the process proceeds to the next level of verification. Note that the heating threshold here is the preset temperature threshold.

[0094] 5. Second-level judgment: Pressure change rate verification.

[0095] In this embodiment, it is determined whether "Kp==0" is true (no increase in air pressure). If it is not true, the air pressure is still changing normally, indicating that the equipment has water and is producing steam normally. It is determined that "there is water and the air pressure is normal, the oven continues to work" and returns to the data acquisition stage. If the temperature rises rapidly but the air pressure does not increase, the suspicion of water shortage is further increased, and the next level of anti-shake judgment is entered. Note that 0 here is the preset air pressure threshold.

[0096] 6. Third-level judgment: Temperature + duration of image stabilization confirmation.

[0097] In this embodiment, it is determined whether the conditions of "temperature T > 205℃ and duration > 10s" are simultaneously met. If not, it belongs to the fluctuation of the working condition in the initial stage of heating, and it is determined that "in the initial stage of heating: do not report water shortage alarm for the time being", and return to the data collection to continue observation to avoid false triggering. If the conditions are met, the high temperature state continues for a sufficient duration, and finally it is determined that the steam oven is short of water. Note that 205℃ here is the preset water shortage temperature threshold, and 10s is the preset duration.

[0098] 7. Water shortage protection measures are implemented.

[0099] In this embodiment, once it is confirmed that the steam oven is short of water, three protective actions are executed simultaneously: power off (cut off the power supply to the heating element, stop heating, and avoid dry burning and damage to the equipment) + pump stop (shut down the water supply pump and stop pumping water) + alarm (trigger a water shortage alarm to inform the user of the equipment water shortage fault).

[0100] In summary, the steam oven water shortage protection control scheme based on temperature and air pressure collaborative diagnosis proposed in this embodiment can accurately identify real water shortage and trigger protection in a timely manner, while also filtering out misjudgments in scenarios such as initial heating fluctuations and sensor interference, thus balancing equipment safety and user experience.

[0101] In this embodiment, the steam oven water shortage protection control scheme based on the coordinated diagnosis of temperature and air pressure no longer relies solely on the absolute values ​​of temperature or air pressure. Instead, it introduces the concept of time derivative to calculate and monitor the following two key dynamic parameters in real time: 1. Temperature change rate (dT / dt), which reflects the increase in temperature of the steam generator of the steam oven per unit time (°C / s); 2. Air pressure change rate (dP / dt), which reflects the increase in air pressure inside the steam oven cavity per unit time (kPa / s). Specifically, the joint judgment logic of temperature and air pressure change rates can be found in Table 1.

[0102] Table 1

[0103] It should be noted that the core diagnostic idea of ​​this embodiment lies in constructing a "heat-pressure" coupled analysis model based on dynamic change rate. By real-time monitoring of the temperature change rate (dT / dt) of the steam generator and the pressure change rate (dP / dt) inside the cavity, the accurate identification of the equipment's operating status can be achieved. Specifically, under normal conditions, constrained by the latent heat of water absorption, the temperature change rate remains within a reasonable range, while the pressure change rate increases significantly over time due to the generation of effective steam. Under water shortage conditions, due to the loss of the buffering effect of water cooling, the temperature change rate spikes sharply, while the lack of steam generation leads to a persistently low pressure change rate, forming the typical characteristic of "rapid high temperature rise and stagnant low pressure." Under pipeline blockage or fault conditions, although the temperature change rate may be within the normal or slightly high range, the pressure change rate is abnormally low, exhibiting an abnormal response of "heat without pressure." This mechanism utilizes the differences in temperature and pressure change trends to effectively distinguish between normal heating, actual water shortage, and system faults, thereby improving the accuracy and robustness of the diagnosis. Specifically, this scheme includes the following steps: 1. Data acquisition and preprocessing.

[0104] In this embodiment, the controller acquires temperature sensor data T(t) and barometric pressure sensor data P(t) at high-frequency sampling intervals (e.g., 10ms-50ms); a sliding window filtering algorithm is used to smooth the original data, removing noise interference, and obtaining smoothed data. and Specifically, the real-time rate of change is calculated using differential methods, as follows:

[0105] 2. Dynamic diagnostic logic in steaming mode.

[0106] In this embodiment, the traditional method of determining water shortage is based on whether the temperature exceeds 205°C. This embodiment, however, focuses on how quickly the temperature rises and how slowly the air pressure increases. The specific implementation steps are as follows: Step S1: Enter steaming mode, water pump supplies water, heating element starts. Simultaneously record the temperature T0 and air pressure P0 at the initial time t0.

[0107] Step S2: Real-time monitoring of the rate of change combination. During the heating process, monitor dT / dt and dP / dt in real time. Set a first preset temperature rise rate threshold. (This refers to a rapid temperature increase, with a very high rate of change, such as 50°C per second; for example, if the heating power is 3000W, the temperature rise may exceed 5°C / s without water, while it is usually less than 1°C / s with water.) and the second preset air pressure rise rate threshold. (This refers to a rapid increase in temperature but a zero change in air pressure, indicating the absence of water. If water is present and the temperature is very high, then this value should not be small; for example, the air pressure should reach at least 0.2 kPa / s during normal steam production.)

[0108] Step S3: Cooperative decision condition, when all of the following conditions are met for a duration (e.g., 5 seconds) At that time, it is determined to be a water shortage, specifically including: (1) High temperature warning: Current temperature (Refers to the high temperature inside the oven, such as 180℃, which is lower than the traditional 205℃, enabling earlier warnings); (2) Rapid heating: This indicates that no water is absorbing heat, and the metal casing overheats rapidly.

[0109] It should be noted that if the only issue is a high temperature (e.g., T>205℃), it may be due to the machine just starting up and preheating. At this time, dT / dt is still in the temperature ramp-up phase, and dP / dt has not yet started, so the device will not alarm. Only when the temperature is extremely high and rises very rapidly (indicating no water) while the gas pressure does not increase (indicating no gas) is it confirmed as a water shortage; this effectively eliminates false alarms during the "preheating phase" of the steam oven.

[0110] 3. Dynamic diagnostic logic in descaling mode.

[0111] In this embodiment, the descaling mode aims to remove scale through forced water circulation. At this time, the water pump operates at full power, while the heating element typically employs intermittent heating or a low-power maintenance strategy. Note that the core challenge of this embodiment lies in distinguishing between "effective water circulation" and "pump idling / water shortage." To address this, a "thermal-pressure mismatch" monitoring mechanism based on the rate of change is introduced, with the specific implementation steps as follows: Step S1: Establish baseline operating state. When entering descaling mode, the controller starts the water pump to full power and records the initial temperature T0 and air pressure P0.

[0112] During this stage, a large amount of cold water circulates through the heating zone. According to thermodynamic principles, water has a high specific heat capacity and can effectively absorb the heat generated by the heating element. Therefore, the following characteristics are expected to be observed: (1) The temperature change rate dT / dt is low and stable: the water temperature should show a slow and linear upward trend, without any drastic step jumps.

[0113] (2) The rate of change of air pressure dP / dt is positive and stable: As the water temperature gradually approaches the boiling point, a small amount of steam will be generated and accumulate in the cavity, resulting in a smooth and continuous upward trend of air pressure.

[0114] Step S2: Real-time monitoring of dynamic feature vectors. The controller calculates the current dT / dt and dP / dt using high-frequency sampling (e.g., once every 100ms). Simultaneously, two key thresholds are set: the safe temperature rise slope threshold (…). ) and minimum effective pressure slope ( Note that this type of threshold can be obtained by sampling and extracting normal values ​​inside the oven during normal operation of the steam oven as a reference.

[0115] Step S3: Anomaly detection logic based on "contradictory features".

[0116] It should be noted that the logic behind the different working conditions and judgment results can be found in Table 2.

[0117] Table 2

[0118] In this embodiment, the temperature and pressure collaborative diagnostic mechanism is as follows: in the steaming mode, the temperature of the steam generator and the changes in the internal pressure of the cavity are monitored in real time; when the temperature of the steam generator is continuously higher than 205°C for 10 seconds and the rate of increase of the internal pressure is lower than the set threshold (such as 0.5 kPa per second), the equipment is determined to be in a water shortage state.

[0119] To further explain, the judgment logic in the descaling mode in this embodiment is as follows: In the descaling mode, if the boiler temperature is still higher than 60°C after the water pump runs at full power for 50 seconds and the gas pressure does not reach the minimum increment requirement within the next 20 seconds (such as the cumulative increase being less than 2 kPa), it is determined to be a water shortage or an abnormal steam passage.

[0120] 4. Water shortage protection response mechanism.

[0121] In this embodiment, once a water shortage is detected, the device will automatically stop the heating element and water pump, and at the same time light up or flash the "water shortage" icon on the display panel and enter a pause state.

[0122] 5. Air pressure passage self-test function.

[0123] In this embodiment, before each heating cycle, the water pump is briefly run and gas pressure changes are monitored to identify abnormalities such as sensor failure or steam pipe blockage, ensuring the reliability of the diagnostic mechanism.

[0124] Specifically, the above control scheme achieves accurate identification and rapid response to water shortage by having a controller (such as a microprocessor) work in conjunction with multiple sensors (such as temperature sensors and air pressure sensors). The entire diagnostic process is based on physical processes (whether effective steam is generated), which avoids the uncertainty of judging a single parameter and improves the intelligence level of the equipment and the user experience.

[0125] It should be noted that this implementation can further introduce inlet water flow sensing on the basis of the original temperature and air pressure collaborative diagnosis, forming a three-parameter collaborative diagnosis mechanism. Specifically, after the equipment starts heating, if the inlet water flow meter measures a flow rate of zero or significantly low (e.g., below the set flow rate threshold of 100 ml / min), and at the same time the boiler temperature rises rapidly while the air pressure increases slowly (e.g., the air pressure increase rate is below 0.3 kPa / s), the equipment is comprehensively judged to be in a water shortage state. Specifically, by introducing the flow parameter, the reliability of the equipment's judgment of the water shortage state is further improved, especially suitable for complex operating conditions such as abnormal inlet water or water pump failure, enhancing the robustness and applicability of the water shortage judgment.

[0126] In summary, the above solution not only solves the technical problems of traditional steam ovens, such as reliance on a single parameter in water shortage judgment, high false alarm rate, large response delay, inability to distinguish between the heating state and the actual water shortage state, and difficulty in adapting to different operating modes, which lead to insufficient equipment safety and reliability; it also improves the reliability and interpretability of water shortage judgment by introducing a multi-parameter collaborative diagnostic mechanism that combines the temperature change trend of the steam generator with the dynamic response of the internal air pressure. This enables the equipment to accurately identify whether effective steam is generated, the core physical process, thereby improving the reliability and interpretability of the equipment's water shortage judgment. Furthermore, by setting a condition in steaming mode where the temperature is continuously higher than a preset high-temperature threshold for a preset duration and the air pressure increase rate is lower than a preset air pressure threshold, water shortage is determined, allowing for timely response to actual water shortage conditions and avoiding false alarms. In descaling mode, a comprehensive judgment is made by combining water pump running time with boiler temperature and air pressure changes, further enhancing the adaptability and stability of the equipment under different operating conditions. Finally, by automatically stopping heating and water pump operation after triggering protection and notifying the user through a display device, the technical effects of ensuring equipment safety and improving user experience are achieved.

[0127] This embodiment also provides a steam equipment water shortage protection control system, which is used to implement the above embodiments and preferred embodiments, and will not be repeated as described herein. The term "module" as used below can refer to a combination of software and / or hardware that performs a predetermined function. Although the systems described in the following embodiments are preferably implemented in software, hardware implementation, or a combination of software and hardware, is also possible and contemplated.

[0128] This embodiment provides a water shortage protection control system for steam equipment. The steam equipment includes a steam generator, such as... Figure 5 As shown, it includes: The data acquisition module 501 is used to acquire the temperature of the steam generator and the gas pressure inside the steam equipment cavity in response to the heating operation of the steam equipment.

[0129] The rate of change determination module 502 is used to determine the rate of temperature change of the steam generator based on the temperature, and to determine the rate of pressure change of the gas inside the cavity based on the gas pressure.

[0130] The water shortage determination module 503 is used to determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator.

[0131] The water shortage control module 504 is used to control the steam equipment to perform water shortage protection operation when it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state.

[0132] In some optional implementations, the water shortage determination module 503 includes: The first determination submodule is used to determine whether the rate of temperature change is greater than a preset temperature threshold.

[0133] The second determination submodule is used to determine whether the air pressure change rate is less than the preset air pressure threshold when the temperature change rate is greater than the preset temperature threshold.

[0134] The third determination submodule is used to determine that the steam generator has not generated effective steam when the rate of change of air pressure is less than the preset air pressure threshold, and to determine whether the current temperature of the steam generator is greater than the preset water shortage temperature threshold.

[0135] The fourth determination submodule is used to determine that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state when the current temperature of the steam generator is greater than the preset water shortage temperature threshold and continues for a preset duration.

[0136] In some optional implementations, the water shortage determination module 503 further includes: a mode adaptive submodule, used to determine the current operating mode of the steam equipment, the operating mode including at least a steaming mode and a descaling mode; and to set at least one of a preset temperature threshold, a preset gas pressure threshold and a preset water shortage temperature threshold according to the operating mode.

[0137] In some optional embodiments, the water shortage control module 504 further includes: a control submodule, used to control the heating element and the water supply pump to stop operating when it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state; and / or to control the steam equipment to provide a water shortage warning.

[0138] In some alternative implementations, the system further includes: The anomaly detection module is used to control the water supply pump to supply water to the steam generator and monitor the pressure changes in the steam equipment cavity; it uses pressure changes to detect pressure anomalies and controls the heating operation of the steam equipment when no pressure anomaly is detected.

[0139] The three-parameter water shortage diagnosis module is used to obtain the water inlet flow rate of the steam generator; based on the water inlet flow rate, temperature change rate and pressure change rate, it determines whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state; when the water inlet flow rate is lower than the preset flow rate threshold, the temperature change rate is greater than the preset temperature threshold, and the pressure change rate is less than the preset pressure threshold, it determines that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state.

[0140] The steam equipment water shortage protection control system provided in this embodiment of the invention can execute the steam equipment water shortage protection control method provided in any embodiment of the invention, and has the corresponding functional modules and beneficial effects of the method. Further functional descriptions of the above modules and units are the same as in the corresponding embodiments described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0141] The steam equipment water shortage protection control system in this embodiment of the invention, through the orderly coordination of various modules, automatically completes the entire process of temperature and pressure data acquisition, dynamic change rate calculation, multi-dimensional water shortage judgment, and protection action triggering. This effectively replaces the traditional single-parameter judgment method, significantly improving the automation level and accuracy of water shortage detection. Furthermore, by identifying water shortage characteristics through the dynamic change rate of temperature and pressure, a judgment can be made without waiting for the temperature to rise to an extremely high dry-burning threshold, enabling earlier triggering of water shortage protection actions, effectively preventing the risk of dry-burning of the steam generator, improving equipment operation safety, and enhancing the user experience.

[0142] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium. The methods described above according to embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware or firmware, or implemented as computer code that can be recorded on a storage medium, or implemented as computer code downloaded via a network and originally stored on a remote storage medium or a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and then stored on a local storage medium. Thus, the methods described herein can be processed by software stored on a storage medium using a general-purpose computer, a dedicated processor, or programmable or dedicated hardware. The storage medium can be a magnetic disk, optical disk, read-only memory, random access memory, flash memory, hard disk, or solid-state drive, etc.; further, the storage medium may also include combinations of the above types of memory. It is understood that computers, processors, microprocessor controllers, or programmable hardware include storage components capable of storing or receiving software or computer code. When the software or computer code is accessed and executed by the computer, processor, or hardware, the steam equipment water shortage protection control method shown in the above embodiments is implemented.

[0143] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for water shortage protection control of steam equipment, wherein the steam equipment includes a steam generator, characterized in that, The method includes: In response to the heating operation of the steam equipment, the temperature of the steam generator and the gas pressure inside the steam equipment cavity are obtained; The temperature change rate of the steam generator is determined based on the temperature, and the pressure change rate of the cavity is determined based on the pressure. Based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator, determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state; When it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state, the steam equipment is controlled to perform a water shortage protection operation; The step of determining whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator includes: Based on the temperature change rate and the gas pressure change rate, it is determined whether the steam generator produces effective steam; When it is determined that the steam generator is not producing effective steam, the steam equipment is determined to be in a water shortage state based on the current temperature of the steam generator.

2. The steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of determining whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator further includes: Determine whether the rate of temperature change is greater than a preset temperature threshold. When the rate of temperature change is greater than the preset temperature threshold, it is determined whether the rate of air pressure change is less than the preset air pressure threshold. When the rate of change of air pressure is less than the preset air pressure threshold, it is determined that the steam generator has not generated effective steam, and it is determined whether the current temperature of the steam generator is greater than the preset water shortage temperature threshold. When the current temperature of the steam generator is greater than the preset water shortage temperature threshold and continues for a preset duration, the steam equipment is determined to be in a water shortage state.

3. The steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determine the current operating mode of the steam equipment, wherein the operating mode includes at least a steaming mode and a descaling mode; According to the operating mode, at least one of the preset temperature threshold, the preset air pressure threshold, and the preset water shortage temperature threshold is set.

4. The steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steam equipment further includes a heating element and a water supply pump; wherein, the heating element is disposed at the steam generator and is used to heat the water in the steam generator; the water supply pump is connected between the water source and the steam generator and is used to supply water to the steam generator; controlling the steam equipment to perform a water shortage protection operation includes: Control the heating element and water supply pump to stop operating; And / or, control the steam equipment to provide a water shortage warning.

5. The steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The method further includes, prior to the heating operation of the steam equipment: Control the water supply pump to supply water to the steam generator and monitor the pressure changes inside the steam equipment cavity; The pressure changes are used to detect pressure anomalies, and the heating operation of the steam equipment is controlled when no pressure anomalies are detected.

6. The steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the inlet water flow rate of the steam generator; Based on the inlet water flow rate, the temperature change rate, and the gas pressure change rate, determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state; When the inlet water flow rate is lower than a preset flow rate threshold, the temperature change rate is greater than a preset temperature threshold, and the gas pressure change rate is less than a preset gas pressure threshold, the steam equipment is determined to be in a water shortage state.

7. A water shortage protection control system for steam equipment, wherein the steam equipment includes a steam generator, characterized in that, The system includes: The data acquisition module is used to acquire the temperature of the steam generator and the gas pressure inside the steam equipment cavity in response to the heating operation of the steam equipment; A rate of change determination module is used to determine the temperature change rate of the steam generator based on the temperature, and to determine the pressure change rate of the cavity based on the pressure. The water shortage determination module is used to determine whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator. A water shortage control module is used to control the steam equipment to perform a water shortage protection operation when it is determined that the steam equipment is in a water shortage state. The step of determining whether the steam equipment is in a water shortage state based on the temperature change rate, the gas pressure change rate, and the current temperature of the steam generator includes: Based on the temperature change rate and the gas pressure change rate, it is determined whether the steam generator produces effective steam; When it is determined that the steam generator is not producing effective steam, the steam equipment is determined to be in a water shortage state based on the current temperature of the steam generator.

8. A steam equipment, characterized in that, The steam equipment includes a steam generator and a controller. The steam generator is used to generate steam. The controller includes a memory and a processor. The memory and the processor are interconnected. The memory stores computer instructions. The processor executes the computer instructions to perform the steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. The steam equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The steam equipment further includes a heating element and a water supply pump; wherein the heating element is located at the steam generator and is used to heat the water in the steam generator; the water supply pump is connected between the water source and the steam generator and is used to supply water to the steam generator; and / or, the steam equipment is a steam oven, a steam cabinet, or a humidifier.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions for causing the computer to execute the steam equipment water shortage protection control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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