Flow valve, zero cold water circulation system and water heater

Abstract

The utility model discloses a flow valve, zero cold water circulation system and water heater relates to zero cold water circulation flow control technical field, the flow valve is used for zero cold water circulation system, said zero cold water circulation system is provided with heat exchanger, and cold water inlet pipe and hot water outlet pipe respectively communicated with heat exchanger, said flow valve includes: valve body, the valve body is provided with a first port, a second port and a bypass flow channel communicated with the first port and the second port, the bypass flow channel is at least provided with a first branch flow channel and a second branch flow channel which are arranged in parallel, the first port is used for being communicated with the hot water outlet pipe, and the second port is used for being communicated with the cold water inlet pipe. According to the technical scheme, the conveying flow of the flow valve can be improved, and the cold water circulation preheating efficiency of the zero cold water circulation system is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of zero - cold - water circulation flow control, and particularly relates to a flow valve, a zero - cold - water circulation system and a water heater. Background Art

[0002] In related technologies, some gas water heaters with zero - cold - water function install a flow valve at the distal user water - using point (i.e., the water - using device). The flow valve connects the cold - water inlet pipe and the hot - water outlet pipe of the water heater to form a circulation loop. The water heater is provided with a water pump connected in series in the circulation loop. Through the water pump and the main body of the water heater for heating, the cold water in the pipeline is circulated and pre - heated, so as to achieve the effect that hot water can be output when the user turns on the water - using device.

[0003] For the traditional flow valve used in the zero - cold - water circulation system of a water heater, there is usually only one flow channel inside, and the overall water flow rate is small. In the zero - cold - water mode, large - flow circulation cannot be achieved, which affects the efficiency of cold - water circulation pre - heating. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] The main purpose of the utility model is to propose a flow valve, a zero - cold - water circulation system and a water heater, aiming to improve the delivery flow rate of the flow valve and the efficiency of cold - water circulation pre - heating in the zero - cold - water circulation system.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the flow valve proposed by the utility model is used for a zero - cold - water circulation system. The zero - cold - water circulation system has a heat exchanger, as well as a cold - water inlet pipe and a hot - water outlet pipe respectively communicated with the heat exchanger. The flow valve includes:

[0006] A valve body is provided with a bypass flow channel. The bypass flow channel has at least a first port, a second port, and a first branch flow channel and a second branch flow channel connected in parallel between the first port and the second port. The first port is used to communicate with the hot - water outlet pipe, and the second port is used to communicate with the cold - water inlet pipe.

[0007] In one embodiment, the flow valve further includes a switching valve provided on the valve body, and the switching valve is used to conduct or cut off the first branch flow channel;

[0008] And / or, the flow valve further includes a flow - limiting member provided on the valve body, and the flow - limiting member is used to limit the output flow rate of the second branch flow channel to a preset flow rate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the flow valve further includes a switching valve provided on the valve body. The switching valve is an electromagnetic valve configured to be closed in the non - powered state to cut off the first branch flow channel and opened in the powered state to conduct the first branch flow channel. The second branch flow channel is a normally - open channel that remains in a conducting state.

[0010] In one embodiment, the flow valve further includes a check valve provided on the valve body, and the check valve is configured to control the one-way conduction of the bypass flow channel from the hot water outlet pipe towards the cold water inlet pipe.

[0011] In one embodiment, the bypass flow channel further has an inlet flow channel, the inlet end of the inlet flow channel is connected to the first port, and the outlet end of the inlet flow channel is connected to the inlet ends of the first branch flow channel and the second branch flow channel;

[0012] And / or, the bypass flow channel further has an outlet flow channel, the inlet end of the outlet flow channel is connected to the outlet ends of the first branch flow channel and the second branch flow channel, and the outlet end of the outlet flow channel is connected to the second port.

[0013] In one embodiment, the flow valve further includes a water flow monitoring module provided on the valve body, and the water flow monitoring module is configured to monitor the inlet water flow of the bypass flow channel;

[0014] And / or, the flow valve further includes a temperature detection module provided on the valve body, and the temperature detection module is configured to detect the outlet water temperature of the bypass flow channel.

[0015] In one embodiment, the valve body further has a first flow channel, the first flow channel has a first water inlet, a first water outlet and a first bypass port that are interconnected, the first water inlet is configured to be connected to the hot water outlet pipe, the first water outlet is configured to be connected to a water using device, and the first bypass port is connected to the first port;

[0016] And / or, the valve body further has a second flow channel, the second flow channel has a second water inlet, a second water outlet and a second bypass port that are interconnected, the second water inlet is configured to be connected to the cold water inlet pipe, the second water outlet is configured to be connected to a water using device, and the second bypass port is connected to the second port.

[0017] In one embodiment, the valve body includes a valve body main body and a first joint detachably connected to the valve body main body, the valve body main body constructs the bypass flow channel, and the first joint constructs the first flow channel;

[0018] And / or, the valve body includes a valve body main body and a second joint detachably connected to the valve body main body, the valve body main body constructs the bypass flow channel, and the second joint constructs the second flow channel.

[0019] In one embodiment, the valve body main body is made of a plastic part, and the first joint and / or the second joint are made of metal parts.

[0020] The present utility model further provides a zero cold water circulation system, including:

[0021] A heat exchanger;

[0022] A cold water inlet pipe, which is communicated with the water inlet end of the heat exchanger;

[0023] A hot water outlet pipe, which is communicated with the water outlet end of the heat exchanger; and

[0024] A bypass flow channel, the bypass flow channel at least has a first branch channel and a second branch channel arranged in parallel, the water inlet end of the first branch channel and the water inlet end of the second branch channel are communicated with the hot water outlet pipe, and the water outlet end of the first branch channel and the water outlet end of the second branch channel are communicated with the cold water inlet pipe, so that the cold water inlet pipe, the heat exchanger, the hot water outlet pipe, and the bypass flow channel are connected end to end to form a zero cold water circulation loop.

[0025] In an embodiment, a switching valve is arranged on the first branch channel, and the switching valve is used to conduct or cut off the first branch channel;

[0026] And / or, a flow limiting member is arranged on the second branch channel, and the flow limiting member is used to limit the output flow of the second branch channel to a preset flow;

[0027] And / or, a one-way valve is arranged in the zero cold water circulation loop, and the one-way valve is configured to allow the water flowing out of the hot water outlet pipe to flow unidirectionally in the direction of the cold water inlet pipe through the bypass flow channel in the open state.

[0028] In an embodiment, the zero cold water circulation system includes the flow valve as described above, and the valve body of the flow valve constructs the bypass flow channel.

[0029] The present utility model also proposes a water heater, which includes the flow valve as described above, or includes the zero cold water circulation system as described above.

[0030] The technical solution of the present utility model adopts a flow valve with a double-channel structure in the zero-cold-water circulation system. In the valve body of the flow valve, a first branch channel and a second branch channel are arranged in parallel. The two branch channels can simultaneously conduct water flow transportation, which can improve the transportation flow rate of the flow valve. In the zero-cold-water mode, the cold water accumulated in the hot water outlet pipe is transported from the first port to the bypass channel of the flow valve, and then can be split into the first branch channel and the second branch channel for simultaneous transportation to achieve a large bypass flow rate. Then, it converges at the second port and is transported into the cold water inlet pipe, and then flows back from the cold water inlet pipe to the heat exchanger for heating. In this way, a large-flow circulation can be realized, and the efficiency of cold water circulation preheating can be improved. Moreover, since the water inlet ends of the first branch channel and the second branch channel converge at the first port, and the water outlet ends of the first branch channel and the second branch channel converge at the second port, the pressures of the first branch channel and the second branch channel are equal, which can avoid the pressure loss in the later-inlet branch channel caused by the sequential water inlet of the two branch channels, so as to ensure that the efficiency of cold water circulation preheating is not affected by the pressure loss, and the efficiency of cold water circulation preheating can be further improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present utility model. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the zero-cold-water circulation system provided by the present utility model;

[0033] Figure 2 It is a module schematic diagram of an embodiment of the flow valve provided by the present utility model;

[0034] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the flow valve provided by the present utility model;

[0035] Figure 4 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of an embodiment of the flow valve provided by the present utility model;

[0036] Figure 5 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of another perspective of an embodiment of the flow valve provided by the present utility model;

[0037] Figure 6 It is an exploded structural diagram of an embodiment of the flow valve provided by the present utility model;

[0038] Figure 7 For Figure 6Schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the middle valve body.

[0039] Explanation of the reference numerals in the attached drawings:

[0040] 100, flow valve; 10, valve body; 11, valve body; 110, bypass flow channel; 1101, first branch flow channel; 1102, second branch flow channel; 1103, inlet water flow channel; 1104, outlet water flow channel; 111, first port; 112, second port; 113, flow-through port; 114, mounting port; 12, first joint; 120, first flow channel; 1201, first water inlet; 1202, first water outlet; 1203, first bypass port; 121, first pipe body; 122, second pipe body; 13, second joint; 130, second flow channel; 1301, second water inlet; 1302, second water outlet; 1303, second bypass port; 131, third pipe body; 132, fourth pipe body; 20, on-off valve; 21, drive assembly; 22, spool assembly; 30, current-limiting component; 40, check valve; 50, electronic control module; 60, water flow monitoring module; 70, temperature detection module;

[0041] 200, heat exchanger; 300, cold water inlet pipe; 400, hot water outlet pipe; 500, water pump;

[0042] 600, water-using equipment.

[0043] The realization, functional features and advantages of the purpose of the present utility model will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings. Specific embodiments

[0044] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the attached drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without making creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0045] It should be noted that if there are directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) involved in the embodiments of the present utility model, the directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0046] In addition, if the embodiments of the present utility model involve descriptions such as "first", "second", etc., the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In addition, if "and / or" or "and / or" appears throughout the text, its meaning includes three parallel scenarios. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes Scenario A, or Scenario B, or the scenario where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. In addition, the technical solutions between various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of those of ordinary skill in the art to implement. When the combination of technical solutions results in contradictions or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present utility model.

[0047] In related technologies, some gas water heaters with zero cold water function install a flow valve at the remote user water usage point (i.e., the water using device). The flow valve connects the cold water inlet pipe and the hot water outlet pipe of the water heater to form a circulation loop. The water heater is provided with a water pump connected in series in the circulation loop. Through the water pump and the main body of the water heater for heating, the cold water in the pipeline is circulated and preheated, achieving the effect that hot water can be discharged when the user turns on the water using device.

[0048] For the traditional flow valve used in the zero cold water circulation system of a water heater, there is usually only one flow channel inside, and the overall water flow rate is small. In the zero cold water mode, large flow circulation cannot be achieved, affecting the efficiency of cold water circulation and preheating.

[0049] Based on this, the present utility model proposes a flow valve for a zero cold water circulation system. Through optimizing the design of the flow valve, the delivery flow rate of the flow valve can be increased, and the efficiency of cold water circulation and preheating in the zero cold water circulation system can be improved.

[0050] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 7 In an embodiment of the present utility model, the flow valve 100 is used for a zero cold water circulation system. The zero cold water circulation system has a heat exchanger 200, as well as a cold water inlet pipe 300 and a hot water outlet pipe 400 respectively connected to the heat exchanger 200. The flow valve 100 includes a valve body 10. The valve body 10 is provided with a bypass flow channel 110. The bypass flow channel 110 has at least a first port 111, a second port 112, and a first branch flow channel 1101 and a second branch flow channel 1102 connected in parallel between the first port 111 and the second port 112. The first port 111 is used to connect to the hot water outlet pipe 400, and the second port 112 is used to connect to the cold water inlet pipe 300.

[0051] In this embodiment, the valve body 10 is used to construct an internal flow channel and can also serve as a mounting carrier for other components. When applied to a zero-cold-water circulation system, the flow valve 100 can be installed between the cold-water inlet pipe 300 and the hot-water outlet pipe 400, so that the cold-water inlet pipe 300, the heat exchanger 200, the hot-water outlet pipe 400, and the flow valve 100 are connected end to end to form a zero-cold-water circulation loop. A water pump 500 can also be provided on the zero-cold-water circulation loop to provide the power for the water flow to circulate along the zero-cold-water circulation loop. In the zero-cold-water mode, the cold water accumulated in the hot-water outlet pipe 400 can be transported to the bypass flow channel 110 through the first port 111 of the flow valve 100, and then output to the cold-water inlet pipe 300 through the second port 112, and then return to the heat exchanger 200 through the cold-water inlet pipe 300 for heating, so as to achieve zero cold water in the entire zero-cold-water circulation loop.

[0052] The technical solution of the present utility model adopts a flow valve 100 with a double-flow-channel structure in the zero-cold-water circulation system. A first branch flow channel 1101 and a second branch flow channel 1102 are provided in parallel in the valve body 10 of the flow valve 100. The two branch flow channels can transport water flow simultaneously, which can improve the transport flow rate of the flow valve 100. In the zero-cold-water mode, after the cold water accumulated in the hot-water outlet pipe 400 is transported to the bypass flow channel 110 of the flow valve 100 through the first port 111, it can be split into the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102 for simultaneous transportation, achieving a large bypass flow rate, and then converging at the second port 112 and transported into the cold-water inlet pipe 300, and then returning to the heat exchanger 200 through the cold-water inlet pipe 300 for heating. In this way, large-flow circulation can be realized, and the efficiency of cold-water circulation preheating can be improved. Moreover, since the water inlet ends of the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102 converge at the first port 111, and the water outlet ends of the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102 converge at the second port 112, the pressures of the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102 are equal, which can avoid the pressure loss in the later-inlet branch flow channel due to the sequential water inlet of the two branch flow channels, so as to ensure that the efficiency of cold-water circulation preheating is not affected by the pressure loss, and the efficiency of cold-water circulation preheating can be further improved.

[0053] In order to be able to adjust the flow rate of the flow valve 100, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, in one embodiment, the flow valve 100 further includes a switch valve 20 disposed on the valve body 10, and the switch valve 20 is used to conduct or block the first branch channel 1101. In this embodiment, when it is necessary to realize a large flow rate transmission of the bypass channel 110 of the flow valve 100, the switch valve 20 is opened to make the first branch channel 1101 conduct, and at this time, the first branch channel 1101 and the second branch channel 1102 are both in a conduction state for water to flow through. When it is necessary to realize a small flow rate transmission of the bypass channel 110 of the flow valve 100, the switch valve 20 is closed to block the first branch channel 1101, and at this time, only the second branch channel 1102 is in a conduction state for water to flow through. Among them, the switch valve 20 includes but is not limited to the use of an automatic valve or a manual valve. In addition, the switch valve 20 includes but is not limited to the use of a stop valve (such as a solenoid valve) having only two states of opening and closing, or a regulating valve (such as a proportional valve) having multiple opening adjustment functions.

[0054] Optionally, the second branch flow channel 1102 is a normally open flow channel. In order to ensure that the flow rate output by the second branch flow channel 1102 remains stable, Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, the flow valve 100 further includes a flow limiting member 30 disposed on the valve body 10, and the flow limiting member 30 is used to limit the output flow of the second branch flow channel 1102 to a preset flow. The preset flow can be set according to actual needs and is not specifically limited here. The flow limiting member 30 includes but is not limited to a flow limiting ring, a flow limiting valve, etc.

[0055] In addition, in the related art, a one-way valve is usually provided in the zero cold water circulation system of the water heater. In the zero cold water mode, the one-way valve is generally opened and closed by relying on the pressure difference on both sides. When the pressure on the hot water side is higher than the pressure on the cold water side, the one-way valve is pushed open to open the circulation loop. However, in the actual water use process, the one-way valve is not only opened when the water pump is started in the zero cold water mode, but also in some other application scenarios, such as when a large amount of water is used at the cold water end or the hot water end uses a water pump to increase the pressure, it will also cause the pressure on the hot water side to be greater than the pressure on the cold water side, and the one-way valve may also be accidentally opened. When the one-way valve is accidentally opened, the circulation loop is opened to generate a circulation flow. After the main unit of the water heater detects the flow, it will cause a false start problem, generate noise that affects users, and also cause the problem of hot water in the cold water pipe.

[0056] According to the length of cold water use time in actual application scenarios, the length of the corresponding false start time, exemplary, includes the following scenarios:

[0057] For example, in the toilet flushing scenario, the user's cold water end uses a large amount of water instantly, causing the pressure on the cold water side of the one-way valve to drop, the one-way valve is pushed open, the circulation loop is connected, and the water heater main end is mistakenly started. For another example, in the scenario where the washing machine uses a large amount of water continuously, the one-way valve is pushed open, the circulation loop is connected, the water heater main end is started and ignited, causing some hot water to be in the cold water pipe. For another example, for a water heater with both zero cold water and boosting functions, when the user uses water at the hot water end and the user turns on the water pump for boosting, the one-way valve may also be pushed open, and the better the water pump boosting effect, the greater the probability of the one-way valve being pushed open. At this time, the water heater main end is started and ignited, causing some hot water to be in the cold water pipe.

[0058] In order to solve the above problem, in one embodiment, the flow valve 100 also includes a switch valve 20 and a flow limiting component 30 arranged on the valve body 10, the switch valve 20 is used to conduct or block the first branch channel 1101, and the flow limiting component 30 is used to limit the output flow of the second branch channel 1102 to a preset flow.

[0059] In this embodiment, the bypass flow channel 110 has a first branch flow channel 1101 and a second branch flow channel 1102 arranged in parallel. The first branch flow channel 1101 is a switchable flow channel controlled by the switch valve 20. When the switch valve 20 is opened, the first branch flow channel 1101 is connected to allow water to flow through. When the switch valve 20 is closed, the first branch flow channel 1101 is blocked to prevent water from flowing through. The second branch flow channel 1102 is a normally open flow limiting channel that is limited by the flow limiting member 30. Under the action of the flow limiting member 30, the flow through the second branch flow channel 1102 is limited to a preset flow, and the preset flow can be set according to actual needs. For example, when applied to a zero-cold water circulation system of a water heater, the flow rate of the second branch channel 1102 can be limited to less than the starting flow rate of the water heater through the flow limiting member 30. In this way, when the first branch channel 1101 is in a closed state, since the flow rate through the second branch channel 1102 is less than the starting flow rate of the water heater, it will not cause the water heater to ignite and start, which can prevent the water heater from starting by mistake. Among them, the preset flow rate limited by the flow limiting member 30 can be any value less than the starting flow rate of the water heater host. Optionally, the preset flow rate limited by the flow limiting member 30 is any flow value less than or equal to 3.5L / min. Exemplarily, the preset flow rate of the second branch channel 1102 after being limited by the flow limiting member 30 is 1.5L / min. Among them, the flow limiting member 30 includes but is not limited to a flow limiting ring, a flow limiting valve, etc. Optionally, the flow limiting member 30 is a flow limiting ring detachably mounted in the valve body 10. In actual application, a flow limiting ring of corresponding specifications can be installed in the valve body 10 according to different water heater starting flows, which can simplify the structure of the flow valve 100 and reduce costs.

[0060] In one embodiment, the flow valve 100 further includes a switching valve 20 disposed in the valve body 10. The switching valve 20 is configured as a solenoid valve that closes in the non-powered state to block the first branch flow channel 1101 and opens in the powered state to conduct the first branch flow channel 1101. The second branch flow channel 1102 is a normally open channel that remains in a conductive state.

[0061] In this embodiment, the switching valve 20 can be a normally closed solenoid valve. A normally closed solenoid valve is a solenoid valve in which the valve is in a closed state when not powered. When powered, the valve opens; when powered off, the valve automatically closes. Using a normally closed solenoid valve is safer. In the event of a power failure or malfunction, the normally closed solenoid valve will automatically close, cutting off the fluid passage, thereby preventing accidental leakage or dangerous situations. Also, the normally closed solenoid valve remains closed when fluid flow is not required, helping to reduce energy waste and lower operating costs. When the water heater is in the non-zero cold water mode, the switching valve 20 is in the normally closed state to block the first branch flow channel 1101. When the flow valve 100 is applied to a water heater, when the user flushes the toilet, fills the washing machine with water, or turns on the booster with hot water, only the second branch flow channel 1102 has water flowing through, and the water flow rate is less than the start-up flow rate of the water heater main unit, so the water heater will not start ignition or combustion, which can solve the problems of mis-start and water mixing in the scenarios of using cold water and boosting with hot water. When the water heater is in the zero cold water mode, the switching valve 20 is powered on and opened to conduct the first branch flow channel 1101, so that the flow valve 100 can achieve a large flow rate to accelerate the water flow circulation in the circulation loop and preheat the cold water in the pipeline.

[0062] In order to prevent cold water in the cold water inlet pipe 300 from flowing into the hot water outlet pipe 400, in one embodiment, the flow valve 100 further includes a check valve 40 disposed in the valve body 10. The check valve 40 is used to control the one-way conduction of the bypass flow channel 110 from the hot water outlet pipe 400 to the cold water inlet pipe 300.

[0063] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the bypass flow channel 110 has a first branch flow channel 1101 and a second branch flow channel 1102 arranged in parallel. The flow rate valve 100 further includes a switching valve 20 provided on the valve body 10, a flow limiting member 30, and a check valve 40. The switching valve 20 is used to conduct or cut off the first branch flow channel 1101. The flow limiting member 30 is used to limit the output flow rate of the second branch flow channel 1102 to a preset flow rate. The check valve 40 is used to control the one-way conduction of the bypass flow channel 110 from the hot water outlet pipe 400 towards the cold water inlet pipe 300. Thus, when the pressure at the hot water end is greater than the pressure at the cold water end, the check valve 40 opens under the action of the pressure difference on both sides, allowing the water in the hot water outlet pipe 400 to flow through the bypass flow channel 110 to the cold water inlet pipe 300. When the pressure at the hot water end is less than the pressure at the cold water end, the check valve 40 closes tightly under the action of the pressure difference on both sides, preventing the water in the cold water inlet pipe 300 from flowing through the bypass flow channel 110 to the hot water outlet pipe 400. Among them, the check valve 40 includes, but is not limited to, a spring type check valve, a gravity type check valve, a swing check valve, etc.

[0064] As Figure 2 and Figure 7 shown, in one embodiment, the bypass flow channel 110 further has an inlet flow channel 1103. The inlet end of the inlet flow channel 1103 is connected to the first port 111, and the outlet end of the inlet flow channel 1103 is connected to the inlet ends of the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102. Thus, the water in the hot water outlet pipe 400 is transported to the inlet flow channel 1103 through the first port 111 and then split into the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102. This kind of flow channel design enables the water output from the inlet flow channel 1103 to be transported into the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102 simultaneously, avoiding pressure loss in the later-inflowing flow channel.

[0065] As Figure 2 and Figure 7 shown, in one embodiment, the bypass flow channel 110 further has an outlet flow channel 1104. The inlet end of the outlet flow channel 1104 is connected to the outlet ends of the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102, and the outlet end of the outlet flow channel 1104 is connected to the second port 112. Thus, the water in the first branch flow channel 1101 and the second branch flow channel 1102 can be premixed in the outlet flow channel 1104 and then transported to the cold water inlet pipe 300 through the second port 112. This kind of flow channel design can set some control valves or sensors at the outlet flow channel 1104 to facilitate the monitoring and control of the outlet water temperature of the entire bypass flow channel 110.

[0066] Optionally, in one embodiment, the bypass channel 110 further has a water inlet channel 1103 and a water outlet channel 1104. The water inlet end of the water inlet channel 1103 is connected to the first port 111. The water outlet end of the water inlet channel 1103 is connected to the water inlet ends of the first branch channel 1101 and the second branch channel 1102. The water inlet end of the water outlet channel 1104 is connected to the water outlet ends of the first branch channel 1101 and the second branch channel 1102. The water outlet end of the water outlet channel 1104 is connected to the second port 112. In this way, the water in the hot water outlet pipe 400 is conveyed to the water inlet channel 1103 via the first port 111 and then split into the first branch channel 1101 and the second branch channel 1102. Then the water in the two branch channels converges via the water outlet channel 1104 and is conveyed to the cold water inlet pipe 300 via the second port 112. It enables the water output from the water inlet channel 1103 to be simultaneously conveyed into the first branch channel 1101 and the second branch channel 1102, avoiding pressure loss in the later-inlet channel. At the same time, it can also make the water in the first branch channel 1101 and the second branch channel 1102 mix in advance in the water outlet channel 1104, and it is also convenient to set some control valves or sensors at the water outlet channel 1104 to facilitate the monitoring and control of the outlet water temperature of the entire bypass channel 110.

[0067] Based on the channel design of the above embodiment, when the valve body 10 is provided with a check valve 40, the check valve 40 can be arranged in the water inlet channel 1103 or the water outlet channel 1104. In some embodiments, the check valve 40 can also be arranged in the second branch channel 1102. In addition, in practical applications, the check valve 40 can also be separated from the flow valve 100, and the check valve 40 is arranged on the pipeline for conveying water from the hot water outlet pipe 400 to the flow valve 100, or the check valve 40 is arranged on the pipeline for conveying water from the flow valve 100 to the cold water inlet pipe 300, as long as it can prevent the cold water in the cold water inlet pipe 300 from flowing back into the hot water outlet pipe 400.

[0068] As Figure 2 and Figure 4 shown, in one embodiment, the flow valve 100 further includes a water flow monitoring module 60 arranged on the valve body 10. The water flow monitoring module 60 is used to monitor the inlet water flow of the bypass channel 110.

[0069] In this embodiment, the flow valve 100 can monitor the inlet water flow of the bypass flow channel 110 in real time by using the water flow monitoring module 60 to obtain the water flow information (such as water flow, water pressure, etc.) of the flow valve 100. Among them, the water flow monitoring module 60 includes but is not limited to a flow sensor, a water pressure sensor, etc. Optionally, the first branch flow channel 1101 is provided with a switch valve 20. When the flow valve 100 is applied to a water heater, the water flow monitoring module 60 and the switch valve 20 can be electrically connected to the electronic control module 50. The flow valve 100 uses the water flow monitoring module 60 to monitor the inlet water flow of the bypass flow channel 110 in real time, and determines the water flow signal according to the water flow monitoring result, and then feeds the water flow signal back to the electronic control module 50. The electronic control module 50 controls the switch valve 20 to open or close according to the water flow signal fed back by the water flow monitoring module 60, thereby ensuring that during the operation of the water heater, the first branch flow channel 1101 of the flow valve 100 can be opened or closed in time according to different application scenarios, thereby realizing the intelligent control of the flow valve 100.

[0070] For example, when the water heater needs to start the zero cold water function, the water pump 500 can be controlled to work through a specific logic, and the specific logic is converted into a water flow fluctuation and water flow pulse signal of the circulation loop by the water pump 500. After the water heater sends the relevant signal, the water pump 500 continues to start working; after the flow valve 100 with the built-in water flow monitoring module 60 receives the signal and analyzes it to be consistent with the content of the agreement, the switch valve 20 is opened through the electronic control module 50 to make the first branch flow channel 1101 conductive, and the circulation loop flow increases. When the circulation flow is greater than the water heater start flow, the water heater starts heating; when the water heater completes the circulation heating function, the information is transmitted to the flow valve 100 through the water flow signal using the same principle. After the flow valve 100 receives the relevant signal, the switch valve 20 is closed through the electronic control module 50 to restore the system to the initial state. It is worth noting that the electronic control module 50 can be the electronic control module 50 of the water heater host, or an independent electronic control module 50 can be configured on the flow valve 100. The water flow monitoring module 60 and the switch valve 20 can be electrically connected to the electric control module 50 in a wired or wireless manner. Optionally, the electric control module 50 is used to control the electrical components on the flow valve 100 and can also be used to supply power to the electrical components.

[0071] Optionally, the flow sensor includes a rotor and a Hall sensor, the rotor is arranged in the water inlet channel 1103 of the bypass channel 110, and the Hall sensor is arranged on the outside of the valve body 10 and is arranged corresponding to the rotor. When water flows through the water inlet channel 1103, the water flows on the rotor to rotate the rotor, and during the rotation, the magnetic induction lines of the magnetic field generated by the Hall sensor are cut. The Hall sensor senses the frequency of the rotor cutting the magnetic induction lines, and feeds this frequency back to the electronic control module 505, thereby calculating the magnitude of the water flow.

[0072] like Figure 2 andFigure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, the flow valve 100 further includes a temperature detection module 70 disposed in the valve body 10, and the temperature detection module 70 is used to detect the outlet water temperature of the bypass flow channel 110.

[0073] In this embodiment, the temperature detection module 70 includes, but is not limited to, a thermocouple temperature sensor, a thermistor temperature sensor, etc. to implement the temperature detection function. Optionally, a switching valve 20 is provided in the first branch flow channel 1101. When the flow valve 100 is applied to a water heater, the temperature detection module 70 and the switching valve 20 can be electrically connected to the electronic control module 50 respectively. The temperature detection module 70 is used to detect the outlet water temperature of the bypass flow channel 110, and the switching valve 20 is used to open and close under the control of the electronic control module 50. When the water heater main unit is in the zero cold water mode, the switching valve 20 is opened to open the first branch flow channel 1101, so that the flow valve 100 realizes a large flow, and the cold water in the zero cold water circulation loop can circulate and preheat normally. By obtaining the water flow temperature in the flow valve 100 through the temperature detection module 70 and determining the change trend of the water flow temperature in the flow valve 100, the electronic control module 50 can determine the closing time of the switching valve 20 according to the change trend of the water flow temperature in the flow valve 100. For example, when the temperature detection module 70 detects that the water temperature change flowing through the flow valve 100 tends to be gentle, the electronic control module 50 controls the switching valve 20 to close, so as to cut off the first branch flow channel 1101. At this time, the water heater main unit correspondingly detects that the flow rate suddenly changes to below the start-up flow rate of the water heater, and the main unit shuts off and stops the water pump 500 from rotating, thereby completing a zero cold water circulation. In this way, the problem of wasting gas caused by hot water circulating to the entire cold water pipe and the cold and hot water of family members can be solved, and the energy consumption of the water heater can be reduced. Optionally, the slope of the water temperature rise curve can be calculated according to the temperature data detected by the temperature detection module 70 in real time. When the slope of the water temperature rise curve approaches a preset slope, it is determined that the change of the outlet water temperature of the bypass flow channel 110 tends to be gentle, and the switching valve 20 is controlled to close. The slope of the water temperature rise curve approaching the preset slope here can be understood as that the water temperature rise curve infinitely approaches or reaches the preset slope within the allowable error range.

[0074] Optionally, in one embodiment, the flow valve 100 further includes a water flow monitoring module 60 and a temperature detection module 70 disposed in the valve body 10. The water flow monitoring module 60 is used to monitor the inlet water flow of the bypass flow channel 110, and the temperature detection module 70 is used to detect the outlet water temperature of the bypass flow channel 110.

[0075] Please combine Figure 1 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6, based on the above embodiments, in one embodiment, the valve body 10 is further provided with a first flow channel 120. The first flow channel 120 has a first water inlet 1201, a first water outlet 1202, and a first bypass port 1203 that are interconnected. The first water inlet 1201 is used to connect to the hot water outlet pipe 400, the first water outlet 1202 is used to connect to the water-using device 600, and the first bypass port 1203 is connected to the first port 111.

[0076] In this embodiment, the first flow channel 120 is a tee flow channel with a first water inlet 1201, a first water outlet 1202, and a first bypass port 1203. In the zero cold water mode, the water in the hot water outlet pipe 400 can enter the first flow channel 120 through the first water inlet 1201, and then enter the bypass flow channel 110 of the flow valve 100 through the first bypass port 1203, and then flow along the zero cold water circulation loop to realize cold water circulation preheating. When the user needs to use hot water, the valve of the water-using device 600 is opened, and the water in the hot water outlet pipe 400 enters the first flow channel 120 through the first water inlet 1201 and is then delivered to the water-using device 600 through the first water outlet 1202 to provide hot water for the user.

[0077] Please combine Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 , in one embodiment, the valve body 10 is further provided with a second flow channel 130. The second flow channel 130 has a second water inlet 1301, a second water outlet 1302, and a second bypass port 1303 that are interconnected. The second water inlet 1301 is used to connect to the cold water inlet pipe 300, the second water outlet 1302 is used to connect to the water-using device 600, and the second bypass port 1303 is connected to the second port 112.

[0078] In this embodiment, the second flow channel 130 is a tee flow channel with a second water inlet 1301, a second water outlet 1302, and a second bypass port 1303. In the zero cold water mode, the water in the bypass flow channel 110 enters the second flow channel 130 through the second bypass port 1303, and then is delivered to the cold water inlet pipe 300 through the second water inlet 1301. At this time, the second water inlet 1301 can be used as a cold water return port, and then the cold water flows along the zero cold water circulation loop to realize cold water circulation preheating. When the user needs to use cold water, the valve of the water-using device 600 is opened, and the water in the cold water inlet pipe 300 enters the first flow channel 120 through the second water inlet 1301 and is then delivered to the water-using device 600 through the second water outlet 1302 to provide cold water for the user.

[0079] Optionally, as Figure 1 and Figure 5As shown, the valve body 10 is further provided with a first flow channel 120 and a second flow channel 130. The first flow channel 120 has a first water inlet 1201, a first water outlet 1202 and a first bypass port 1203 that communicate with each other. The first water inlet 1201 is used to communicate with the hot water outlet pipe 400, the first water outlet 1202 is used to communicate with the water-using device 600, and the first bypass port 1203 communicates with the first port 111. The second flow channel 130 has a second water inlet 1301, a second water outlet 1302 and a second bypass port 1303 that communicate with each other. The second water inlet 1301 is used to communicate with the cold water inlet pipe 300, the second water outlet 1302 is used to communicate with the water-using device 600, and the second bypass port 1303 communicates with the second port 112. When applied to a water heater, the first flow channel 120 can be used as a hot water flow channel, the second flow channel 130 can be used as a cold water flow channel, the first water inlet 1201 can be used as a hot water inlet, the first water outlet 1202 can be used as a hot water outlet, the second water inlet 1301 can be used as a cold water inlet, and the second water outlet 1302 can be used as a cold water outlet. Thus, when the water heater is not working, the external cold water can be transported to the user equipment through the second flow channel 130 of the cold water inlet pipe 300 and the flow valve 100 to provide cold water for the user. When the water heater is working, the hot water output by the water heater can be transported to the user equipment through the first flow channel 120 of the flow valve 100 via the hot water outlet pipe 400 to provide hot water for the user. When the water heater is in the zero-cold water mode, the second water inlet 1301 can also be used as a cold water return port. At the initial stage when the water heater is turned on and the water-using device 600 is not opened, the zero-cold water function is activated, and the accumulated cold water in the hot water outlet pipe 400 can be returned to the heat exchanger 200 of the water heater through the bypass flow channel 110, the second flow channel 130 and the cold water inlet pipe 300 for reheating to ensure zero cold water in the entire pipeline so that the user can immediately use hot water when the water-using device 600 is opened.

[0080] As Figure 6 and Figure 7 shown, in one embodiment, the valve body 10 includes a valve body 11 and a first joint 12 detachably connected to the valve body 11. The valve body 11 constructs a bypass flow channel 110, and the first joint 12 constructs a first flow channel 120.

[0081] In this embodiment, the first joint 12 is a three-way joint provided with a first water inlet 1201, a first water outlet 1202 and a first bypass port 1203. The first joint 12 constructs a first flow channel 120, and through the first joint 12, it is very convenient to connect the hot water outlet pipe 400, the flow valve 100 and the water-using device 600.

[0082] As Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, in one embodiment, the valve body 10 includes a valve main body 11 and a second joint 13 detachably connected to the valve main body 11. The valve main body 11 defines a bypass flow channel 110, and the second joint 13 defines a second flow channel 130.

[0083] In this embodiment, the second joint 13 is a three-way joint provided with a second water inlet 1301, a second water outlet 1302, and a second bypass port 1303. The second joint 13 defines a second flow channel 130, and through the second joint 13, the cold water inlet pipe 300, the flow valve 100, and the water-using device 600 can be conveniently connected to each other.

[0084] Optionally, the valve body 10 includes a valve main body 11, a first joint 12 and a second joint 13 respectively connected to the valve main body 11. The valve main body 11 defines a bypass flow channel 110, the first joint 12 defines a first flow channel 120, and the second joint 13 defines a second flow channel 130.

[0085] In this embodiment, the valve body 10 can be assembled from three parts: the valve main body 11, the first joint 12, and the second joint 13, which is beneficial to reducing the mold manufacturing difficulty of the valve body 10 and the production cost; and it can also facilitate the assembly of components such as the flow-limiting member 30 and the check valve 40 inside the valve body 10. For the convenience of cleaning the internal flow channels of the flow valve 100 and for the replacement and repair of the internal components of the valve body 10, optionally, the first joint 12 and the second joint 13 are respectively detachably connected to the valve main body 11. Among them, the first joint 12 and the second joint 13 include, but are not limited to, being detachably connected to the valve main body 11 by means of threaded connection, pin connection, etc. To ensure the sealing reliability of the connection part, optionally, a sealing member is provided at the connection part between the first joint 12 and the valve main body 11, and a sealing member is provided at the connection part between the second joint 13 and the valve main body 11 to prevent water leakage.

[0086] Optionally, the valve main body 11 is made of a plastic part. In this way, it is possible to conveniently construct a relatively complex bypass flow channel 110 structure inside the valve main body 11 by means of injection molding or 3D printing and other molding methods; and it can reduce the weight of the valve body 10 and the cost. Optionally, the first joint 12 and / or the second joint 13 are made of metal parts, which is beneficial to enhancing the structural strength of the valve body 10 and is also beneficial to connecting with other metal pipes.

[0087] As Figures 5 to 7 shown, in one embodiment, the first branch flow channel 1101 has a flow-through port 113 located inside the valve body 10. An installation port 114 communicating with the flow-through port 113 is provided on the side wall of the valve body 10. The on-off valve 20 includes a driving assembly 21 provided at the installation port 114 and a valve core assembly 22 drivingly connected to the driving assembly 21. The driving assembly 21 is used to drive the valve core assembly 22 to move to open or block the flow-through port 113.

[0088] In this embodiment, when the driving component 21 drives the valve core component 22 to open the flow-through port 113, the first branch flow channel 1101 is conducted. When the driving component 21 drives the valve core component 22 to block the flow-through port 113, the second branch flow channel 1102 is blocked. Optionally, the valve body 11 includes a pipe body and a mounting portion provided on the side wall of the pipe body. A bypass flow channel 110 is constructed inside the pipe body, and the mounting portion is used to mount the driving component 21. The mounting portion has a mounting port 114 communicating with the flow-through port 113 inside the pipe body. After the driving component 21 is mounted on the mounting portion in place, the mounting port 114 can be blocked, and the valve core component 22 can extend into the valve body 10 through the mounting port 114 to open or block the flow-through port 113. Optionally, the switching valve 20 is a solenoid valve. The driving component 21 includes an electromagnetic coil and an iron core disposed inside the electromagnetic coil. The valve core component 22 includes a seal drivingly engaged with the iron core. By controlling the on-off state of the electromagnetic coil, the iron core can be controlled to approach or move away from the seal, so that the seal can open or block the flow-through port 113.

[0089] As Figure 3 and Figure 6 shown, in one embodiment, the first joint 12 includes a first pipe body 121 and a second pipe body 122 provided on the peripheral wall of the first pipe body 121. The second joint 13 includes a third pipe body 131 and a fourth pipe body 132 provided on the peripheral wall of the third pipe body 131. The two ends of the first pipe body 121 are respectively provided with a first water inlet 1201 and a first bypass port 1203. The end of the second pipe body 122 facing away from the first pipe body 121 is provided with a first water outlet 1202. The two ends of the third pipe body 131 are respectively provided with a second water inlet 1301 and a second bypass port 1303. The end of the fourth pipe body 132 facing away from the third pipe body 131 is provided with a second water outlet 1302. The first pipe body 121 and the third pipe body 131 are respectively disposed at both ends of the valve body 11 along the first direction. The first pipe body 121 and the third pipe body 131 both extend along the first direction. The second pipe body 122 and the fourth pipe body 132 both extend along the second direction. The first direction and the second direction intersect.

[0090] In this embodiment, both the first joint 12 and the second joint 13 are generally arranged in a T-shaped pipe, and the valve body 11 is generally arranged in a linear tubular shape. The first pipe body 121, the valve body 11, and the third pipe body 131 extend along the first direction and are connected in sequence, such that the valve body 10 generally presents an elongated tubular structure. The second water inlet 1301 and the hot water inlet are respectively located at both ends of the valve body 10 along the first direction, which is beneficial to reducing the volume of the valve body 10, so as to facilitate connecting the valve body 10 to the cold water inlet pipe 300 and the hot water outlet pipe 400 respectively. The second pipe body 122 and the fourth pipe body 132 both extend along the second direction, so as to be connected to the water-using device 600. Optionally, the second pipe body 122 and the fourth pipe body 132 are arranged on the same side of the valve body 10 along the second direction, such that the first water outlet 1202 and the second water outlet 1302 are located on the same side of the valve body 10, making the arrangement of each port of the valve body 10 more regular, so as to connect to the external pipeline. Of course, in some embodiments, the valve body 10 can also be configured as an H-valve with an H-shaped structure.

[0091] To facilitate the installation and disassembly of the flow valve 100 with other pipelines, optionally, an external thread is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first joint 12. For example, an external thread for connecting the hot water outlet pipe 400 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the end of the first pipe body 121 away from the valve body 11, and an external thread for connecting the water-using device 600 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second pipe body 122. Optionally, an external thread is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second joint 13. For example, an external thread for connecting the cold water inlet pipe 300 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the end of the third pipe body 131 away from the valve body 11, and an external thread for connecting the water-using device 600 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fourth pipe body 132.

[0092] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the present utility model also proposes a zero cold water circulation system, including a heat exchanger 200, a cold water inlet pipe 300, a hot water outlet pipe 400, and a bypass flow channel 110. The cold water inlet pipe 300 is communicated with the water inlet end of the heat exchanger 200; the hot water outlet pipe 400 is communicated with the water outlet end of the heat exchanger 200; the bypass flow channel 110 at least has a first branch channel 1101 and a second branch channel 1102 arranged in parallel. The water inlet end of the first branch channel 1101 and the water inlet end of the second branch channel 1102 are communicated with the hot water outlet pipe 400, and the water outlet end of the first branch channel 1101 and the water outlet end of the second branch channel 1102 are communicated with the cold water inlet pipe 300, so that the cold water inlet pipe 300, the heat exchanger 200, the hot water outlet pipe 400, and the bypass flow channel 110 are connected end to end to form a zero cold water circulation loop.

[0093] In this embodiment, a cold water inlet pipe 300, a heat exchanger 200, a hot water outlet pipe 400, and a bypass flow path 110 are connected end to end to form a zero cold water circulation loop. A water pump 500 may also be provided on the zero cold water circulation loop to provide the power for the water flow to circulate along the zero cold water circulation loop. In the zero cold water mode, the cold water accumulated in the hot water outlet pipe 400 can be output to the cold water inlet pipe 300 via the bypass flow path 110, and then return to the heat exchanger 200 via the cold water inlet pipe 300 for heating, so that zero cold water is achieved in the entire zero cold water circulation loop. By adopting a bypass flow path 110 with a double flow path structure in the zero cold water circulation system, and the bypass flow path 110 has at least a first branch flow path 1101 and a second branch flow path 1102 connected in parallel, and the two branch flow paths can simultaneously conduct water flow transportation, which can improve the transportation flow rate of the bypass flow path 110. In the zero cold water mode, the cold water accumulated in the hot water outlet pipe 400 can be split into the first branch flow path 1101 and the second branch flow path 1102 for simultaneous transportation to achieve a large bypass flow rate, and then transported into the cold water inlet pipe 300, and then return to the heat exchanger 200 via the cold water inlet pipe 300 for heating. In this way, large flow rate circulation can be achieved, and the efficiency of cold water circulation preheating can be improved.

[0094] In practical applications, a flow valve 100 as described in the above embodiment can be connected between the cold water inlet pipe 300 and the hot water outlet pipe 400, and a bypass flow path 110 is constructed in the valve body 10 of the flow valve 100. Alternatively, a bypass pipeline with two branches can also be connected between the cold water inlet pipe 300 and the hot water outlet pipe 400, and the bypass flow path 110 is constructed through the bypass pipeline, and specific limitations are not made here.

[0095] As Figure 2 shown, in an embodiment, a switching valve 20 is provided in the first branch flow path 1101, and the switching valve 20 is used to conduct or cut off the first branch flow path 1101. In this embodiment, when large flow rate transportation of the bypass flow path 110 needs to be achieved, the switching valve 20 is opened to conduct the first branch flow path 1101. At this time, both the first branch flow path 1101 and the second branch flow path 1102 are in a conducting state for water flow to pass through. When small flow rate transportation of the bypass flow path 110 needs to be achieved, the switching valve 20 is closed to cut off the first branch flow path 1101. At this time, only the second branch flow path 1102 is in a conducting state for water flow to pass through. Among them, the switching valve 20 includes but is not limited to an automatic valve or a manual valve. In addition, the switching valve 20 includes but is not limited to a stop valve that only has two states of open and closed, or a regulating valve with multiple opening degree adjustment functions.

[0096] Optionally, the second branch flow channel 1102 is a normally open flow channel. To ensure the stability of the flow rate output by the second branch flow channel 1102, in one embodiment, the second branch flow channel 1102 is provided with a flow limiting member 30, and the flow limiting member 30 is configured to limit the output flow rate of the second branch flow channel 1102 to a preset flow rate. The preset flow rate can be set according to actual needs and is not specifically limited herein. The flow limiting member 30 includes, but is not limited to, a flow limiting ring, a flow limiting valve, etc.

[0097] To prevent cold water in the cold water inlet pipe 300 from flowing into the hot water outlet pipe 400, in one embodiment, the zero cold water circulation loop is provided with a one-way valve 40, and the one-way valve 40 is configured to allow the water flow output by the hot water outlet pipe 400 to flow unidirectionally in the direction of the cold water inlet pipe 300 via the bypass flow channel 110 in the open state.

[0098] Optionally, the zero cold water circulation system includes a flow valve 100, and the valve body 10 of the flow valve 100 constructs a bypass flow channel 110. The specific structure of the flow valve 100 can refer to the above embodiment. Since the zero cold water circulation system adopts all the technical solutions of the above embodiment, it at least has all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiment, which will not be elaborated herein one by one.

[0099] The present utility model also proposes a water heater, including a flow valve 100. The specific structure of the flow valve 100 can refer to the above embodiment. Since the water heater adopts all the technical solutions of the above embodiment, it at least has all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiment, which will not be elaborated herein one by one.

[0100] The present utility model also proposes a water heater, including a zero cold water circulation system. The specific structure of the zero cold water circulation system can refer to the above embodiment. Since the water heater adopts all the technical solutions of the above embodiment, it at least has all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiment, which will not be elaborated herein one by one.

[0101] Among them, the water heater includes, but is not limited to, a gas water heater, an electric water heater, a wall-mounted boiler, etc. The gas water heater can be a forced-draft gas water heater or a forced-blow gas water heater, etc.

[0102] Such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in one embodiment, the water heater includes a heat exchanger 200, a cold water inlet pipe 300, a hot water outlet pipe 400, a flow valve 100, and a water pump 500. The cold water inlet pipe 300 is connected to the water inlet end of the heat exchanger 200; the hot water outlet pipe 400 is connected to the water outlet end of the heat exchanger 200; the flow valve 100 connects the cold water inlet pipe 300 and the hot water outlet pipe 400, and the hot water outlet pipe 400, the first flow channel 120, the bypass flow channel 110, the second flow channel 130, the cold water inlet pipe 300, and the heat exchanger 200 are sequentially connected to form a zero cold water circulation loop; the water pump 500 is arranged in the zero cold water circulation loop to drive the water flow to flow along the zero cold water circulation loop.

[0103] In this embodiment, taking the gas water heater as an example, the gas water heater includes components such as a heat exchanger 200, a burner, and a blower. The water inlet end of the heat exchanger 200 is connected to the cold water inlet pipe 300, and the water outlet end of the heat exchanger 200 is connected to the hot water outlet pipe 400. When the water heater works, the external cold water is transported to the inside of the heat exchanger 200 through the cold water inlet pipe 300. The burner burns to generate high-temperature flue gas, and the blower drives the high-temperature flue gas to flow to the heat exchanger 200 to heat the cold water in the heat exchanger 200, thereby generating hot water and outputting it to the water-using device 600 through the hot water outlet pipe 400 to provide hot water for users. When the water heater works, the water pump 500 on the circulation loop starts to generate a pressure difference on both sides of the check valve 40 of the flow valve 100. The pressure at the hot water end of the check valve 40 is greater than the pressure at the cold water end, so that the check valve 40 is opened under the action of the pressure difference on both sides to conduct the circulation loop and generate a circulation flow. When the circulation water flow reaches above the ignition flow of the water heater main unit, the main unit ignites; thus, in the initial stage of the water heater startup, the accumulated cold water in the hot water outlet pipe 400 can be refluxed to the heat exchanger 200 of the water heater through the bypass flow channel 110, the second flow channel 130, and the cold water inlet pipe 300 for reheating through the circulation loop to ensure zero cold water in the entire pipeline, so that the user can immediately use hot water when turning on the water-using device 600. In some scenarios where a large amount of cold water is used at the cold water using end (such as flushing the toilet, washing machine water supply, etc.) or in scenarios where the water pump 500 is used to boost the pressure at the hot water using end, when the starting pressure difference of the check valve 40 is reached, the check valve 40 is opened to connect the cold and hot water pipelines to form a circulation loop, and then a circulation flow is generated; in these scenarios, only need to cut off the first branch flow channel 1101 through the switch valve 20. At this time, the flow of the bypass flow channel 110 is only the flow after the second branch flow channel 1102 is restricted. Even if the check valve 40 is opened, since the flow through the second branch flow channel 1102 is limited and less than the startup flow of the water heater, the flow in the circulation loop cannot reach the condition for causing the water heater to start, thereby preventing the water heater from misstarting, avoiding affecting the user due to noise generated by misstarting, and at the same time being able to prevent the phenomenon of hot water from flowing back into the cold water pipe due to the misstarting of the water heater.

[0104] The above is only an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformation made under the technical concept of the present utility model by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present utility model, or any direct / indirect application in other related technical fields is included in the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A flow valve for a zero-cold water circulation system, wherein the zero-cold water circulation system comprises a heat exchanger, and a cold water inlet pipe and a hot water outlet pipe respectively connected to the heat exchanger, characterized in that: The flow valve comprises: The valve body is provided with a bypass flow channel, which has at least a first port, a second port, and a first branch flow channel and a second branch flow channel connected in parallel between the first port and the second port, the first port is used to connect to the hot water outlet pipe, and the second port is used to connect to the cold water inlet pipe.

2. The flow valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow valve further comprises a switch valve disposed on the valve body, and the switch valve is used to conduct or block the first branch flow channel; And / or, the flow valve further comprises a flow limiting member provided on the valve body, wherein the flow limiting member is used to limit the output flow of the second branch flow channel to a preset flow.

3. The flow valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow valve also includes a switch valve arranged on the valve body, and the switch valve is configured as an electromagnetic valve that is closed in an unpowered state to isolate the first branch channel, and opened in a powered state to connect the first branch channel. The second branch channel is a normally open channel that remains in a conductive state.

4. The flow valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow valve further comprises a one-way valve arranged on the valve body, and the one-way valve is used to control the bypass flow channel to be unidirectionally conducted from the hot water outlet pipe toward the cold water inlet pipe.

5. The flow valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bypass flow channel also has a water inlet flow channel, the water inlet end of the water inlet flow channel is connected to the first port, and the water outlet end of the water inlet flow channel is connected to the water inlet end of the first branch flow channel and the water inlet end of the second branch flow channel; And / or, the bypass flow channel further comprises a water outlet flow channel, a water inlet end of the water outlet flow channel is connected to a water outlet end of the first branch flow channel and a water outlet end of the second branch flow channel, and a water outlet end of the water outlet flow channel is connected to the second port.

6. The flow valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow valve further comprises a water flow monitoring module disposed on the valve body, and the water flow monitoring module is used to monitor the inlet water flow of the bypass flow channel; And / or, the flow valve further includes a temperature detection module disposed on the valve body, and the temperature detection module is used to detect the outlet water temperature of the bypass flow channel.

7. The flow valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve body is further provided with a first flow channel, the first flow channel having a first water inlet, a first water outlet and a first bypass port which are interconnected, the first water inlet being used to connect to the hot water outlet pipe, the first water outlet being used to connect to the water-using equipment, and the first bypass port being connected to the first port; And / or, the valve body is also provided with a second flow channel, the second flow channel having a second water inlet, a second water outlet and a second bypass port which are interconnected, the second water inlet being used to connect to the cold water inlet pipe, the second water outlet being used to connect to water-using equipment, and the second bypass port being connected to the second port.

8. The flow valve according to claim 7, characterized in that: The valve body comprises a valve body and a first joint detachably connected to the valve body, the valve body constructs the bypass flow channel, and the first joint constructs the first flow channel; And / or, the valve body includes a valve body and a second joint detachably connected to the valve body, the valve body constructs the bypass flow channel, and the second joint constructs the second flow channel.

9. The flow valve according to claim 8, characterized in that: The valve body is made of plastic, and the first joint and / or the second joint is made of metal.

10. A zero-cold water circulation system, characterized in that: include: Heat exchanger; A cold water inlet pipe connected to the water inlet end of the heat exchanger; A hot water outlet pipe connected to the water outlet end of the heat exchanger; as well as A bypass flow channel, the bypass flow channel at least has a first branch flow channel and a second branch flow channel arranged in parallel, the water inlet end of the first branch flow channel and the water inlet end of the second branch flow channel are connected to the hot water outlet pipe, and the water outlet end of the first branch flow channel and the water outlet end of the second branch flow channel are connected to the cold water inlet pipe, so that the cold water inlet pipe, the heat exchanger, the hot water outlet pipe, and the bypass flow channel are connected end to end to form a zero cold water circulation loop.

11. The zero-cold water circulation system according to claim 10, characterized in that: The first branch flow channel is provided with a switch valve, and the switch valve is used to open or block the first branch flow channel; And / or, the second branch flow channel is provided with a flow limiting member, and the flow limiting member is used to limit the output flow of the second branch flow channel to a preset flow; And / or, the zero cold water circulation loop is provided with a one-way valve, and the one-way valve is configured to allow the water output from the hot water outlet pipe to flow in one direction toward the cold water inlet pipe through the bypass flow channel when in an open state.

12. The zero-cold water circulation system according to claim 10, characterized in that: The zero-cold water circulation system comprises the flow valve according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the valve body of the flow valve forms the bypass flow channel.

13. A water heater, characterized in that: It comprises the flow valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or comprises the zero-cold water circulation system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12.

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