A control method of a water heater and a water heater system

Abstract

This invention discloses a control method and system for a water heater, relating to the field of household appliance technology. The control method includes: acquiring a preset mixing ratio range, the current shower setting temperature of the target thermostatic shower, and the current mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower; when the current mixing ratio is not within the preset mixing ratio range, determining a target heating ratio based on the current mixing ratio; and obtaining the target outlet water temperature of the water heater based on the product of the target heating ratio and the current shower setting temperature. On one hand, when the current mixing ratio is higher than the preset mixing ratio range, the heating ratio is adaptively increased according to the difference between the two to obtain shower water at the user's desired temperature; on the other hand, when the current mixing ratio is lower than the preset mixing ratio range, the heating ratio is adaptively decreased according to the difference between the two, thereby reducing heat consumption and improving heat utilization while obtaining shower water at the user's desired temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a control method and system for a water heater. Background Technology

[0002] To enhance the comfort of a constant water temperature during showering, some families install thermostatic showers. These showers ensure a constant water temperature even when environmental factors such as water pressure cause fluctuations in the water heater's output temperature and flow rate. This is achieved through a built-in thermostatic valve that automatically adjusts the mixing ratio of hot and cold water based on their temperatures, ensuring the output water temperature matches the shower's set temperature.

[0003] However, if the user sets the water heater temperature too high, the thermostatic shower will inevitably need to add more cold water to cool it down, thus wasting heat; if the user sets the water heater temperature too low, it may not meet the heat requirements for showering.

[0004] Therefore, how to automatically adjust the water heater's set temperature to a reasonable value, so as to meet the heat demand for showering and improve the heat utilization rate, has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One of the technical problems solved by this invention is to provide a water heater control method, the purpose of which is to determine an appropriate water heater outlet temperature that takes into account both the heat demand for showering and the heat utilization rate.

[0006] The second technical problem solved by this invention is to provide a water heater system that aims to determine an appropriate water heater outlet temperature, taking into account both the heat demand for showering and the heat utilization rate.

[0007] The first technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0008] A method for controlling a water heater, wherein the hot water outlet of the water heater is connected to the hot water inlet of a thermostatic shower, and the water heater and the thermostatic shower are communicatively connected, the control method comprising:

[0009] When the water heater supplies hot water to the thermostatic shower, the preset mixing ratio range, the current shower setting temperature of the target thermostatic shower, and the current mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower are obtained; wherein, the target thermostatic shower is the thermostatic shower that is currently in the shower and has the highest current shower setting temperature, and the mixing ratio is the proportion of hot water entering the hot water inlet to the water exiting the thermostatic shower.

[0010] When the current mixing ratio is not within the preset mixing ratio range, the target temperature rise ratio is determined based on the current mixing ratio. Specifically, when the current mixing ratio is higher than the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the difference between the current mixing ratio and the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the target temperature rise ratio. When the current mixing ratio is lower than the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the difference between the current mixing ratio and the preset mixing ratio range, the smaller the target temperature rise ratio. The target temperature rise ratio is greater than 1, and the lower limit of the preset mixing ratio range is not less than 80%.

[0011] The target outlet water temperature of the water heater is obtained by multiplying the target temperature rise ratio by the current shower setting temperature, and the water heater is controlled to provide hot water to the thermostatic shower at the target outlet water temperature.

[0012] The water heater control method of the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0013] This invention detects the current shower setting temperature and the current mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower, and determines the target temperature rise ratio based on this and a preset mixing ratio range. Then, it adjusts the current shower setting temperature according to the target temperature rise ratio to obtain the target outlet water temperature of the water heater, so that the water heater provides hot water at the target outlet water temperature to the thermostatic shower. On the one hand, when the current mixing ratio is higher than the preset mixing ratio range, it means the hot water flowing into the thermostatic shower is too cold to meet the user's heat requirements. The system will adaptively increase the heating ratio based on the difference between the current and preset mixing ratios; the larger the difference, the larger the target heating ratio, to obtain the desired shower water temperature. On the other hand, when the current mixing ratio is lower than the preset mixing ratio range, it means the hot water flowing into the thermostatic shower is too hot. The thermostatic shower needs to add more cold water to cool it down before it can be used, wasting heat. The system will adaptively decrease the heating ratio based on the difference between the current and preset mixing ratios; the larger the difference, the smaller the target heating ratio, thus reducing heat consumption and improving heat utilization while obtaining the desired shower water temperature, thereby improving heat utilization efficiency. This method can balance the heat requirements of showering and heat utilization efficiency, improving the user experience.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, determining a target heating ratio based on the current mixing ratio includes: obtaining a mixing reference ratio, wherein the mixing reference ratio is located between the maximum and minimum ratios of a preset mixing ratio range; determining a target heating ratio based on a first difference between the current mixing ratio and the mixing reference ratio; wherein the target heating ratio is positively correlated with the first difference.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, determining the target heating ratio based on a first difference between the current mixing ratio and the reference mixing ratio includes: obtaining the current heating ratio and the mixing ratio coefficient, and calculating the target heating ratio based on the first difference and the heating ratio calculation formula; the heating ratio calculation formula is: λ=λ0+α×R3; where λ is the target heating ratio, λ0 is the current heating ratio, α is the mixing ratio coefficient, and R3 is the first difference; the calculation formula for the first difference is: R3=R1-R2; where R1 is the current mixing ratio and R2 is the reference mixing ratio.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the mixing ratio coefficient is between 0.02 and 0.05.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the mixing reference ratio is the sum of the first product of the maximum ratio and the first proportional coefficient and the second product of the minimum ratio and the second proportional coefficient; wherein the sum of the first proportional coefficient and the second proportional coefficient is equal to 1, and both the first proportional coefficient and the second proportional coefficient are between 40% and 60%.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the target outlet water temperature of the water heater is obtained by multiplying the target temperature rise ratio by the current shower setting temperature, including: determining a reference outlet water temperature based on the product of the target temperature rise ratio and the current shower setting temperature; obtaining a maximum temperature threshold; and taking the smaller of the maximum temperature threshold and the reference outlet water temperature as the target outlet water temperature.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present invention, determining a reference outlet water temperature based on the product of a target heating ratio and the current shower setting temperature includes: determining the product of the target heating ratio and the current shower setting temperature as an intermediate outlet water temperature; obtaining a heat compensation temperature; and determining the sum of the heat compensation temperature and the intermediate outlet water temperature as a reference outlet water temperature.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the heat compensation temperature is greater than 1°C and less than 3°C.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum temperature threshold does not exceed 65°C.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present invention, the control method for the water heater further includes: when the water heater is in the start-up state, obtaining a reference temperature rise ratio and determining the reference temperature rise ratio as the target temperature rise ratio.

[0023] In some embodiments of the present invention, the upper limit of the preset mixing ratio range is not higher than 95%.

[0024] The second technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0025] A water heater system includes a water heater and at least one thermostatic shower connected in communication with the water heater; the hot water outlet of the water heater is connected to the hot water inlet of the thermostatic shower; the water heater is used to execute any of the water heater control methods of the present invention; or, the system includes a water heater, a cloud server connected in communication with the water heater, and at least one thermostatic shower connected in communication with the cloud server; the hot water outlet of the water heater is connected to the hot water inlet of the thermostatic shower; the cloud server is used to execute any of the water heater control methods of the present invention.

[0026] The water heater system described in this invention is used to execute any of the control methods for water heaters described in this invention, and has the corresponding beneficial effects of the control method. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a water heater system provided by the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another water heater system provided by the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a water heater control method provided by the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a target heating ratio provided by the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a target outlet water temperature provided by the present invention.

[0033] Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of a water heater provided by the present invention.

[0034] Figure label:

[0035] 1-Water heater, 2-Thermostatic shower, 3-Hot water outlet of water heater, 4-Hot water inlet of thermostatic shower, 5-Cloud server. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0037] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," "intermediate," and "target" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0038] The technical solution of the present invention will be illustrated below through specific embodiments.

[0039] This invention provides a control method for a water heater, which can be executed by the water heater installed on the water heater system or by a cloud server. Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a water heater system provided by the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another water heater system provided by the present invention. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The water heater system shown in the image has two thermostatic showers, with dashed lines indicating a communication connection. (See image for details.) Figure 1 As shown, the water heater system of the present invention includes: a water heater 1 and at least one thermostatic shower 2 communicatively connected to the water heater 1; the hot water outlet 3 of the water heater 1 is connected to the hot water inlet 4 of the thermostatic shower 2; in this configuration, the water heater 1 is used to execute the water heater control method of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the water heater system includes: a water heater 1, a cloud server 5 communicatively connected to the water heater 1, and at least one thermostatic shower 2 communicatively connected to the cloud server 5; the hot water outlet 3 of the water heater 1 is connected to the hot water inlet 4 of the thermostatic shower 2; in this configuration, the cloud server 5 is used to execute the water heater control method of the present invention.

[0040] refer to Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a control method for a water heater provided by the present invention, which may specifically include the following steps:

[0041] S101. When the water heater supplies hot water to the thermostatic shower, obtain the preset mixing ratio range, the current shower setting temperature of the target thermostatic shower, and the current mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower.

[0042] As long as there is a need for hot water in the thermostatic shower (e.g., when the shower is turned on), the water heater will supply hot water. The thermostatic valve core built into the thermostatic shower automatically adjusts the mixing ratio of hot and cold water flow based on the temperature of the hot and cold water, thereby changing the outlet water temperature to match the set temperature of the thermostatic shower. The mixing ratio refers to the proportion of hot water flow to the total flow. To maintain a constant outlet water temperature, when the hot water temperature flowing into the thermostatic shower is too high, more cold water needs to be mixed in. In this scenario, the water heater overheats the water, requiring a reduction in the mixing ratio, which means wasting heat. When the hot water temperature flowing into the thermostatic shower is too low, the mixing ratio needs to be increased. However, in this scenario, even if the mixing ratio is close to 100%, the outlet water temperature may still be lower than the set temperature of the thermostatic shower, failing to meet the user's showering needs. Alternatively, when the mixing ratio is close to 100%, the outlet water temperature may exactly match the set temperature of the thermostatic shower. Because the mixing ratio is close to 100%, the thermostatic shower loses its temperature regulation capability, meaning it cannot meet the user's shower water temperature requirement. The mixing ratio of a thermostatic shower can reflect whether the water heater's heating temperature is appropriate. If the mixing ratio of the thermostatic shower is small, it means that the water heater's heating temperature is high. Conversely, if the mixing ratio of the thermostatic shower is large, it means that the water heater's heating temperature is low.

[0043] The preset mixing ratio range can be understood as the pre-set range of the hot water flow rate relative to the total flow rate. It is a "boundary condition" determined by comprehensively considering factors such as anti-scalding safety, constant temperature comfort, and product durability, to ensure safe and comfortable water use for users. For example, it requires that the hot water inlet flow rate must account for more than 70% of the total flow rate to ensure that the valve core has enough adjustment space to cope with sudden fluctuations in cold water pressure, and to accurately stabilize the outlet water temperature near the set value, avoiding the phenomenon of sudden changes in water temperature during showering. It also requires that the hot water inlet flow rate be within 95% of the total flow rate, which retains a certain temperature adjustment capability while preventing the valve core from working in a high-temperature environment for a long time. This effectively protects the precision temperature sensing element and rubber seals inside the valve core, preventing these components from aging prematurely due to excessive fatigue, and extending the service life of the thermostatic shower.

[0044] The target thermostatic shower unit is the one with the highest set temperature during showering. This setting aims to determine the water heater's outlet temperature based on the highest water temperature, thus meeting the heat requirements of each user corresponding to that thermostatic shower unit. The current shower set temperature of the target thermostatic shower unit can be understood as the water temperature that the target thermostatic shower unit needs to output, i.e., the water temperature used by the user corresponding to that target thermostatic shower unit. The mixing ratio is the proportion of hot water entering the hot water inlet to the water output from the thermostatic shower unit; the current mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower unit can be understood as the proportion of hot water entering the hot water inlet to the water output when the target thermostatic shower unit outputs water at the current shower set temperature.

[0045] Understandably, if there is only one thermostatic shower in the water heater system, then the current shower setting temperature of that thermostatic shower must be the highest shower setting temperature, and that thermostatic shower is the target thermostatic shower. If there are multiple thermostatic showers in the water heater system, then the thermostatic shower with the highest current shower setting temperature is selected as the target thermostatic shower.

[0046] S102. When the current mixing ratio is not within the preset mixing ratio range, determine the target heating ratio based on the current mixing ratio.

[0047] A current mixing ratio within the preset mixing ratio range means the water heater's outlet temperature is appropriate, meeting the user's water needs while ensuring adequate heat utilization and eliminating heat waste. A current mixing ratio outside the preset range means the water heater's outlet temperature is too high or too low, failing to balance user experience and heat utilization, requiring adjustment. The target temperature increase ratio can be understood as the basis for adjusting the water heater's outlet temperature. For example, the new outlet temperature can be determined by multiplying the current shower setting temperature by the target temperature increase ratio, or by multiplying the current shower setting temperature by the target temperature increase ratio and the heat consumption in the pipes, etc. This invention does not limit this specific method.

[0048] Specifically, a current mixing ratio higher than the preset mixing ratio range means the water heater's outlet temperature is lower. When the current mixing ratio is higher than the preset range, the greater the difference between the current mixing ratio and the preset range, the greater the target temperature increase ratio; that is, the water heater's outlet temperature needs to rise more relative to the current shower setting temperature. Conversely, a current mixing ratio lower than the preset mixing ratio range means the hot water flowing into the thermostatic shower is higher. When the current mixing ratio is lower than the preset range, the greater the difference between the current mixing ratio and the preset range, the smaller the target temperature increase ratio; that is, the water heater's outlet temperature needs to rise less relative to the current shower setting temperature. Considering factors such as heat loss in the pipes and the temperature of the water after mixing hot and cold water, the water heater's outlet temperature must be higher than the current shower setting temperature, meaning the target temperature increase ratio is greater than 1. The lower limit of the preset mixing ratio range is not less than 80%.

[0049] For example, determining the target temperature rise ratio based on the current mixing ratio involves adaptively increasing the current temperature rise ratio according to the degree of deviation of the current mixing ratio when the current mixing ratio is higher than the preset mixing ratio range, thus obtaining a target temperature rise ratio higher than the current temperature rise ratio and avoiding the problem of insufficient water temperature from the thermostatic shower. Conversely, when the current mixing ratio is lower than the preset mixing ratio range, adaptively decreasing the current temperature rise ratio according to the degree of deviation of the current mixing ratio, thus obtaining a target temperature rise ratio lower than the current temperature rise ratio and avoiding the problem of wasted heat and low heat utilization.

[0050] S103. Based on the product of the target heating ratio and the current shower setting temperature, the target outlet water temperature of the water heater is obtained, and the water heater is controlled to provide hot water to the thermostatic shower at the target outlet water temperature.

[0051] The target outlet water temperature can be understood as the water heater outlet temperature that is reset after comprehensively considering factors such as the current mixing ratio, the preset mixing ratio range, and the current shower setting temperature. For example, assuming the target temperature rise ratio is 1.05 and the current shower setting temperature is 38℃, then the target outlet water temperature of the water heater is 1.05 × 38 = 39.9℃.

[0052] The water heater 1 is a heating device used to provide domestic hot water. In some embodiments, the water heater 1 includes, but is not limited to, a gas water heater, a gas-fired boiler, or an electric water heater. It should be understood that any device that can achieve the function of "stable output of hot water at the target outlet temperature" can be used as the water heater 1 described in this invention, and its specific form can be selected according to the needs of the actual application scenario.

[0053] This invention detects the current shower setting temperature and the current mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower, and determines the target temperature rise ratio based on this and a preset mixing ratio range. Then, it adjusts the current shower setting temperature according to the target temperature rise ratio to obtain the target outlet water temperature of the water heater, so that the water heater provides hot water at the target outlet water temperature to the thermostatic shower. On the one hand, when the current mixing ratio is higher than the preset mixing ratio range, it means the hot water flowing into the thermostatic shower is too cold to meet the user's heat requirements. The system will adaptively increase the heating ratio based on the difference between the current and preset mixing ratios; the larger the difference, the larger the target heating ratio, to obtain the desired shower water temperature. On the other hand, when the current mixing ratio is lower than the preset mixing ratio range, it means the hot water flowing into the thermostatic shower is too hot. The thermostatic shower needs to add more cold water to cool it down before it can be used, wasting heat. The system will adaptively decrease the heating ratio based on the difference between the current and preset mixing ratios; the larger the difference, the smaller the target heating ratio, thus reducing heat consumption and improving heat utilization while obtaining the desired shower water temperature, thereby improving heat utilization efficiency. This method can balance the heat requirements of showering and heat utilization efficiency, improving the user experience.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 4 The method for determining the target temperature rise ratio shown is essentially based on the current mixing ratio, and may specifically include the following steps:

[0055] S201. Obtain the reference ratio for mixing water.

[0056] The mixing reference ratio can be understood as a pre-set ideal mixing ratio. The closer the water is to the mixing reference ratio, the more accurate the water temperature setting of the water heater. The mixing reference ratio is located between the maximum and minimum ratios within the preset mixing ratio range.

[0057] The mixing reference ratio is the sum of the first product of the maximum ratio and the first proportional coefficient, and the second product of the minimum ratio and the second proportional coefficient. The first proportional coefficient represents the weight of the maximum ratio in determining the mixing reference ratio, indicating the degree of influence of the maximum ratio on the mixing reference ratio. The second proportional coefficient represents the weight of the minimum ratio in determining the mixing reference ratio, indicating the degree of influence of the minimum ratio on the mixing reference ratio. The sum of the first and second proportional coefficients equals 1, and both the first and second proportional coefficients are between 40% and 60%. This setting is to balance the weight of the two in the mixing control, avoid a single proportional parameter dominating the mixing adjustment process, prevent drastic changes in the heating ratio, stabilize the heating temperature of the water heater, improve the stability of the water outlet temperature, and reduce the phenomenon of sudden changes in water temperature.

[0058] Preferably, the first proportional coefficient and the second proportional coefficient can be 50%. In this case, the mixing reference ratio is the middle value in the preset mixing ratio range. The maximum ratio and the minimum ratio have the same effect on the mixing reference ratio and have the same constraint effect. This can effectively avoid a single parameter dominating the mixing adjustment process, further ensure a stable and continuous change in the heating ratio, and maintain the stability of the water outlet temperature of the water heater.

[0059] S202. Based on the first difference between the current mixing ratio and the mixing reference ratio, determine the target temperature increase ratio.

[0060] Among them, the target temperature rise ratio is positively correlated with the first difference. The larger the first difference (meaning the greater the deviation between the current mixing ratio and the ideal mixing ratio), the greater the change in the target temperature rise ratio.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present invention, determining the target heating ratio based on a first difference between the current mixing ratio and the mixing reference ratio includes: obtaining the current heating ratio and the mixing ratio coefficient, and calculating the target heating ratio based on the first difference and the heating ratio calculation formula.

[0062] The current temperature rise ratio can be understood as the water heater's current temperature amplification factor, which is the temperature rise ratio calculated and output in the previous adjustment cycle. Based on this temperature rise ratio and the shower setting temperature, the final heating temperature of the water heater can be calculated. Taking a shower setting temperature of 40℃ and a temperature rise ratio of 1.05 as an example, the final heating temperature is the product of the two, 42℃. The current temperature rise ratio is used to amplify the shower setting temperature and output the target heating temperature. The water heater pre-stores an initial temperature rise ratio, which can be determined based on parameters such as the water heater's rated operating conditions, the preset target mixing ratio, and the reference inlet water temperature. After the water heater starts working, it will dynamically correct this initial temperature rise ratio according to the actual deviation of the mixing ratio to ensure the real-time performance and accuracy of the temperature rise ratio, thus guaranteeing the heating effect of the water heater. The mixing ratio coefficient can be understood as a pre-set learning rate parameter used to control the correction range of the temperature rise ratio each time, preventing the temperature rise ratio from jumping drastically. The mixing ratio coefficient is between 0.02 and 0.05. Setting the mixing ratio coefficient between 0.02 and 0.05 can limit the adjustment range of the heating ratio in a single operation, avoiding drastic changes in the heating ratio caused by excessive correction in a single operation. On the other hand, it can also balance the adjustment response speed and system stability, gradually offsetting the mixing ratio deviation and suppressing sudden changes in outlet water temperature, preventing the water temperature from fluctuating between hot and cold.

[0063] The formula for calculating the heating ratio belongs to the first-order incremental iterative paradigm, sharing the same recursive idea as the gradient descent formula in machine learning and the integral update of discrete PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controllers. The gradient descent formula in machine learning is: , These are the control parameters for step t+1. These are the control parameters for step t. It's the learning rate. The gradient of the loss function, adjusted by the sign of the error, yields the formula for calculating the heating ratio in this invention. The discrete PID integral iterative update formula is: I k+1 =I k +K i ×e k I k+1 It is the new integral value at step k+1, I k It is the integral value at step k, K i It is the integral coefficient, e k This refers to the error. Specifically, the formula for calculating the heating ratio is: λ = λ0 + α × R3; where λ is the target heating ratio, λ0 is the current heating ratio, α is the mixing ratio coefficient, and R3 is the first difference. The formula for calculating the difference is: c = ab, where c is the difference, a is the minuend, and b is the subtrahend. Furthermore, the formula for calculating the first difference is: R3 = R1 - R2; where R1 is the current mixing ratio and R2 is the mixing reference ratio. This invention provides a specific calculation method for the target heating ratio and the first difference, aiming to efficiently and accurately determine the quantified and precise target heating ratio, thereby obtaining a highly accurate water heater outlet temperature, ensuring a good user experience while improving heat utilization.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 5 The method for determining the target outlet water temperature shown essentially obtains the target outlet water temperature of the water heater by multiplying the target temperature rise ratio by the current shower setting temperature. Specifically, it may include the following steps:

[0065] S301. Determine the reference outlet water temperature based on the product of the target temperature increase ratio and the current shower setting temperature.

[0066] In one specific implementation, determining the reference outlet water temperature based on the product of the target temperature rise ratio and the current shower setting temperature includes: determining the product of the target temperature rise ratio and the current shower setting temperature as the reference outlet water temperature.

[0067] In another specific implementation, considering the heat loss of hot water during pipeline transmission, a reference outlet temperature is determined based on the product of the target temperature rise ratio and the current shower setting temperature, including: determining the product of the target temperature rise ratio and the current shower setting temperature as the intermediate outlet temperature; obtaining the heat compensation temperature, and determining the sum of the heat compensation temperature and the intermediate outlet temperature as the reference outlet temperature.

[0068] The heat compensation temperature can be understood as the heat loss generated when hot water is transmitted through the pipes. The heat compensation temperature is related to factors such as the area of ​​the user's home and the length of the pipes. When deploying a water heater, it can be set based on the length of the pipes from the water heater to each water point and the ambient temperature. Generally, the heat compensation temperature is greater than 1℃ and less than 3℃. The purpose of this setting is to compensate for the pipe loss at the outlet temperature of the water heater, so as to ensure that the temperature of the hot water flowing into the thermostatic shower meets the user's water needs.

[0069] S302, Obtain the maximum temperature threshold.

[0070] The maximum temperature threshold can be understood as the highest outlet water temperature of a water heater, which is the upper limit of the temperature that the water heater's own heating system can stably output. The maximum temperature threshold of this invention does not exceed 65°C. Determining the maximum temperature threshold can, on the one hand, ensure the personal safety of users and prevent them from being scalded by excessively hot water; on the other hand, it can extend the service life of the water heater. Excessively high water temperatures accelerate scale formation. For every 10°C increase in water temperature, the scale formation rate increases by an average of about 40%. Scale adhering to the heat exchanger or heating element can affect thermal efficiency and even damage the equipment.

[0071] S303. The smaller of the maximum temperature threshold and the reference outlet water temperature shall be used as the target outlet water temperature.

[0072] The purpose of setting the target outlet temperature as the smaller of the maximum temperature threshold and the reference outlet temperature is to ensure both the user's water experience and water safety, and to avoid safety hazards caused by setting the water heater outlet temperature too high.

[0073] It is worth noting that the method of the present invention further includes: when the water heater is in the start-up state, obtaining a reference heating ratio and determining the reference heating ratio as the target heating ratio.

[0074] The reference heating ratio can be understood as a pre-set baseline heating ratio, applicable to most households but with limited specificity. When the water heater is in the startup state, signifying its first use, the mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower is unknown. Therefore, the reference heating ratio is used as the target heating ratio to determine the target outlet water temperature and ensure the feasibility of heating operations. After the water heater starts normally, it dynamically adjusts the target heating ratio based on the actual mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower to achieve a target heating ratio and target outlet water temperature that best suits the user's current water usage, thus improving the user's water experience.

[0075] It should be noted that the sequence number of each step in the above embodiments does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0076] Corresponding to the above-described water heater control method, this invention also provides a water heater system, comprising: a water heater and at least one thermostatic shower connected in communication with the water heater; the hot water outlet of the water heater is connected to the hot water inlet of the thermostatic shower; the water heater is used to execute any of the water heater control methods of this invention, and the specific configuration of the water heater system can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 1 and with Figure 1 The relevant descriptions will not be elaborated here.

[0077] Reference Figure 6 The diagram shows a structural schematic of a water heater provided by the present invention, the water heater comprising:

[0078] The information acquisition module 401 is used to acquire the preset mixing ratio range, the current shower setting temperature of the target thermostatic shower and the current mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower when the water heater provides hot water to the thermostatic shower. The target thermostatic shower is the thermostatic shower that is currently in the shower and has the highest current shower setting temperature. The mixing ratio is the proportion of hot water entering the hot water inlet to the water output of the thermostatic shower.

[0079] The heating ratio determination module 402 is used to determine a target heating ratio based on the current mixing ratio when the current mixing ratio is not within the preset mixing ratio range. Specifically, when the current mixing ratio is higher than the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the difference between the current mixing ratio and the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the target heating ratio. When the current mixing ratio is lower than the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the difference between the current mixing ratio and the preset mixing ratio range, the smaller the target heating ratio. The target heating ratio is greater than 1; the lower limit of the preset mixing ratio range is not less than 80%.

[0080] The outlet water temperature determination module 403 is used to obtain the target outlet water temperature of the water heater based on the product of the target heating ratio and the current shower setting temperature, and to control the water heater to provide hot water to the thermostatic shower at the target outlet water temperature.

[0081] Optionally, when determining the target temperature increase ratio based on the current mixing ratio, the temperature increase ratio determination module 402 is specifically used for:

[0082] Obtain a reference ratio for mixing water, wherein the reference ratio for mixing water is located between the maximum and minimum ratios of a preset mixing water ratio range;

[0083] The target temperature rise ratio is determined based on the first difference between the current mixing ratio and the reference mixing ratio; wherein the target temperature rise ratio is positively correlated with the first difference.

[0084] Optionally, when determining the target temperature rise ratio based on the first difference between the current mixing ratio and the mixing reference ratio, the temperature rise ratio determination module 402 is specifically used for:

[0085] Obtain the current heating ratio and water mixing ratio coefficient, and calculate the target heating ratio based on the first difference and the heating ratio calculation formula; the heating ratio calculation formula is: λ=λ0+α×R3; where λ is the target heating ratio, λ0 is the current heating ratio, α is the water mixing ratio coefficient, and R3 is the first difference; the first difference calculation formula is: R3=R1-R2; where R1 is the current water mixing ratio and R2 is the water mixing reference ratio.

[0086] Optionally, the mixing ratio coefficient is between 0.02 and 0.05.

[0087] Optionally, the mixing reference ratio is the sum of the first product of the maximum ratio and the first proportional coefficient and the second product of the minimum ratio and the second proportional coefficient; wherein the sum of the first proportional coefficient and the second proportional coefficient is equal to 1, and both the first proportional coefficient and the second proportional coefficient are between 40% and 60%.

[0088] Optionally, when determining the reference outlet water temperature based on the product of the target temperature increase ratio and the current shower setting temperature, the outlet water temperature determination module 403 is specifically used for:

[0089] The reference outlet water temperature is determined by multiplying the target temperature rise ratio by the current shower setting temperature; the maximum temperature threshold is obtained.

[0090] The smaller of the maximum temperature threshold and the reference outlet water temperature is used as the target outlet water temperature.

[0091] Optionally, when determining the reference outlet water temperature based on the product of the target temperature increase ratio and the current shower setting temperature, the outlet water temperature determination module 403 is specifically used for:

[0092] The intermediate outlet water temperature is determined by multiplying the target temperature rise ratio and the current shower setting temperature.

[0093] Obtain the heat compensation temperature and determine the sum of the heat compensation temperature and the intermediate outlet water temperature as the reference outlet water temperature.

[0094] Optionally, the heat compensation temperature is greater than 1℃ and less than 3℃.

[0095] Optionally, the maximum temperature threshold shall not exceed 65°C.

[0096] Optionally, the outlet water temperature determination module 403 is also used for:

[0097] When the water heater is in the start-up state, obtain the reference temperature rise ratio and determine the reference temperature rise ratio as the target temperature rise ratio.

[0098] Optionally, the upper limit of the preset mixing ratio range is no higher than 95%.

[0099] This invention also provides another water heater system, comprising: a water heater, a cloud server communicatively connected to the water heater, and at least one thermostatic shower 2 communicatively connected to the cloud server; the hot water outlet of the water heater is connected to the hot water inlet of the thermostatic shower; the cloud server is used to execute the control method of any water heater in this invention, and the specific configuration of the water heater system can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 2 and with Figure 2 The modules and functions of the cloud server are the same as those of the water heater, so they will not be repeated here.

[0100] It should be noted that the module division in the various water heaters provided in the above embodiments is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may also be used. Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this invention can be integrated into a single processor, exist as separate physical entities, or be integrated into a single module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0101] If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, all or part of the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention can be embodied in the form of a computer program product, which is stored in a computer storage medium and includes several instructions to cause an electronic device or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods in the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned computer storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0102] Furthermore, the water heater system and the water heater control method provided in the above embodiments belong to the same concept, and their specific implementation process can be found in the method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0103] The embodiments described above are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A control method of a water heater, a hot water outlet of the water heater being in communication with a hot water inlet of a thermostatic shower, the water heater being communicatively connected to the thermostatic shower, characterized in that, include: When the water heater supplies hot water to the thermostatic shower, the preset mixing ratio range, the current shower setting temperature of the target thermostatic shower, and the current mixing ratio of the target thermostatic shower are obtained; wherein, the target thermostatic shower is the thermostatic shower with the highest current shower setting temperature during showering, and the mixing ratio is the proportion of hot water entering the hot water inlet to the water output from the thermostatic shower. When the current mixing ratio is not within the preset mixing ratio range, a target temperature increase ratio is determined based on the current mixing ratio; wherein, when the current mixing ratio is higher than the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the difference between the current mixing ratio and the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the target temperature increase ratio; when the current mixing ratio is lower than the preset mixing ratio range, the greater the difference between the current mixing ratio and the preset mixing ratio range, the smaller the target temperature increase ratio; the target temperature increase ratio is greater than 1; the lower limit of the preset mixing ratio range is not less than 80%; The target outlet water temperature of the water heater is obtained by multiplying the target temperature rise ratio by the current shower setting temperature, and the water heater is controlled to provide hot water to the thermostatic shower at the target outlet water temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, Determining the target temperature increase ratio based on the current mixing ratio includes: Obtain a mixing reference ratio, wherein the mixing reference ratio is located between the maximum and minimum ratios of the preset mixing ratio range; The target temperature rise ratio is determined based on the first difference between the current mixing ratio and the reference mixing ratio; wherein the target temperature rise ratio is positively correlated with the first difference.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, Determining the target temperature rise ratio based on the first difference between the current mixing ratio and the mixing reference ratio includes: Obtain the current heating ratio and water mixing ratio coefficient, and calculate the target heating ratio based on the first difference and the heating ratio calculation formula; The formula for calculating the heating ratio is: λ=λ0+α×R3; where λ is the target heating ratio, λ0 is the current heating ratio, α is the mixing ratio coefficient, and R3 is the first difference. The formula for calculating the first difference is: R3 = R1 - R2; where R1 is the current mixing ratio and R2 is the mixing reference ratio.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The mixing ratio coefficient is between 0.02 and 0.

05.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The mixing reference ratio is the sum of the first product of the maximum ratio and the first ratio coefficient and the second product of the minimum ratio and the second ratio coefficient; Wherein, the sum of the first proportional coefficient and the second proportional coefficient is equal to 1, and both the first proportional coefficient and the second proportional coefficient are between 40% and 60%.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, The step of obtaining the target outlet water temperature of the water heater by multiplying the target temperature rise ratio by the current shower setting temperature includes: The reference outlet water temperature is determined by multiplying the target temperature rise ratio by the current shower setting temperature. Obtain the maximum temperature threshold; The smaller of the maximum temperature threshold and the reference outlet water temperature shall be used as the target outlet water temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, Determining the reference outlet water temperature based on the product of the target temperature increase ratio and the current shower setting temperature includes: The product of the target temperature increase ratio and the current shower setting temperature is determined as the intermediate outlet water temperature; Obtain the heat compensation temperature, and determine the sum of the heat compensation temperature and the intermediate outlet water temperature as the reference outlet water temperature.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further includes: When the water heater is in the start-up state, a reference temperature rise ratio is obtained, and the reference temperature rise ratio is determined as the target temperature rise ratio.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper limit of the preset mixing ratio range is no higher than 95%.

10. A water heater system characterized by, The system includes a water heater and at least one thermostatic shower connected in communication with the water heater; the hot water outlet of the water heater is connected to the hot water inlet of the thermostatic shower; the water heater is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; or, the system includes a water heater, a cloud server connected in communication with the water heater, and at least one thermostatic shower connected in communication with the cloud server; the hot water outlet of the water heater is connected to the hot water inlet of the thermostatic shower; the cloud server is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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