Anti-overheating and anti-icing water storage device

Abstract

The utility model provides an anti-overheating and anti-icing water storage device which comprises a water storage tank and a heating assembly. The water storage tank is provided with a water inlet pipe at the top and a water outlet pipe at the bottom; the heating assembly comprises a bridge circuit and an operational amplifier, and the bridge circuit and the operational amplifier form a negative feedback circuit, so that the functions that the higher the environment temperature is, the lower the heating power is, and the lower the environment temperature is, the higher the heating power is, and a relay and a temperature sensor do not need to be added in the circuit to control the temperature. The heating assembly can be in a normally-open state, so that the problem of frequent start and stop of the heating assembly is avoided. In addition, the exhaust port is specially designed, the exhaust pipe is arranged in the center of the top of the water inlet pipe, the water inlet and the exhaust port are combined into one, and the situation that a large amount of cold air flows backwards to affect the water storage temperature when water enters under the low-temperature working condition can be avoided. When water enters, high-temperature water vapor discharged from the water storage tank can heat the single water inlet channel, and the inflow water is prevented from being frozen at the inlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of water storage device technology, and in particular to a water storage device that is resistant to overheating and freezing. Background Technology

[0002] Airplanes and other high-speed transportation vehicles frequently face the challenge of rapid changes in ambient temperature, such as when taking off and landing at multiple latitudes or flying at high altitudes. Aircraft cabins require the storage of fresh water, which is difficult to replenish during flight. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the stored water at a suitable temperature under all operating conditions to prevent freezing and overheating.

[0003] Currently, existing water storage devices consist of a water tank and a heating system. The heating system typically includes components such as a heating wire, a temperature sensor, and a relay. The temperature sensor, relay, and heating wire are encapsulated and attached to the bottom of the water tank. During operation, the temperature sensor and relay work together. The temperature sensor measures the temperature at the installation location, while the relay sets the upper and lower temperature limits. If the temperature is below the lower limit, the heating device is activated; if the temperature is above the upper limit, the heating device is deactivated. The system experiences frequent temperature fluctuations during operation, with multiple start-ups and shutdowns occurring within an hour.

[0004] To meet the requirements of lightweight design and corrosion resistance, the internal water tanks of vehicles are typically made of thin-walled stainless steel. Thin stainless steel layers have poor heat transfer; heat transfer mainly relies on convection from the internal water. If there is no water for heating, excessive heat will concentrate at the bottom of the thin stainless steel layer, easily leading to severe dry-burning problems, and even burning through the bottom of the tank.

[0005] The heating components of existing water storage devices are controlled by a thermostat, operating in a state of low-temperature on and high-temperature off. If there is insufficient water storage or the temperature threshold of the thermostat is not set properly, the heating components will frequently start and stop, severely reducing their service life. Utility Model Content

[0006] This invention proposes a water storage device that prevents overheating and freezing, solving the problems in the prior art where the heating component of the water storage device is controlled by a thermostat and operates in a low-temperature-on, high-temperature-off state. When the water storage is low or the temperature threshold is set improperly, the heating component will frequently start and stop, thus severely reducing the service life of the heating component.

[0007] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0008] This invention provides a water storage device that prevents overheating and freezing, comprising a water storage tank and a heating assembly. The water storage tank has an inlet pipe at the top and an outlet pipe at the bottom. The heating assembly includes a bridging circuit and an operational amplifier. The bridging circuit includes resistors R1, Rc, R2, and Rh connected in sequence. The node between resistors R1 and Rc is connected to one input terminal of the operational amplifier, the node between resistors R2 and Rh is connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier, the output terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a power supply, the node between resistors R1 and Rh is connected to a power supply, and the node between resistors R2 and Rc is grounded. Resistor Rc is a negative temperature coefficient thermistor used to sense the ambient temperature. Resistor Rh is a heating resistor used to heat the bottom of the water storage tank.

[0009] This invention constructs a bridge circuit using resistors R1 and R2, a heating resistor Rh, and a negative temperature coefficient thermistor Rc. An operational amplifier is connected to the bridge circuit to form a negative feedback circuit. When the ambient temperature rises, the resistance of the thermistor Rc decreases, and the voltage across it decreases. After adjustment by the negative feedback circuit, the voltage across the heating resistor Rh decreases, thus reducing the heating power. Conversely, when the ambient temperature decreases, the resistance of the thermistor Rc increases, and the voltage across it increases. After adjustment by the negative feedback circuit, the voltage across the heating resistor Rh increases, thus increasing the heating power. This achieves the function of lower heating power at higher ambient temperatures and higher heating power at lower ambient temperatures. It eliminates the need for relays and temperature sensors in the circuit for temperature control, and the heating component can remain in a normally open state, avoiding the problem of frequent start-stop cycles.

[0010] Preferably, a thermistor Rn with a negative temperature coefficient is connected in parallel across the resistor Rh to sense the temperature of the heating pad at the bottom of the water tank. When the temperature of the heating pad exceeds the threshold, the resistance of the resistor Rn decreases, causing the voltage across the resistor Rh to decrease, thereby reducing the heating power and avoiding the risk of burn-through due to excessive temperature concentration at the bottom of the water tank.

[0011] Preferably, the water inlet pipe is arranged horizontally, and an exhaust pipe is connected to the center of the top of the water inlet pipe, combining the water inlet and the exhaust port into one. This can prevent a large amount of cold air from flowing back and affecting the water storage temperature when water is introduced under low temperature conditions. When water is introduced, the high-temperature water vapor discharged from the water storage tank can heat the single water inlet channel, preventing the water from freezing at the inlet.

[0012] Preferably, the inner wall of the exhaust pipe is made of a hydrophobic material to prevent condensate from remaining on the inner wall of the exhaust pipe for a long time, which could lead to freezing and blockage.

[0013] Furthermore, a baffle plate is provided at the top of the inlet of the water inlet pipe. The baffle plate can prevent some gas from flowing out of the inlet of the water inlet pipe, so that the gas inside the water storage tank can be discharged through the exhaust pipe, thus preventing gas backflow from affecting the water intake of the water storage tank.

[0014] Furthermore, the bottom surface of the water inlet pipe is provided with a guide groove along the axial direction. On the one hand, it can guide the fluid flow and avoid the problem of air blockage formed by the gas discharged during water intake and the water flow. On the other hand, it can also increase the fluid flow rate on the inner wall of the water inlet pipe and reduce the possibility of ice formation on the inner wall. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a circuit diagram of the heating component of a water storage device that is protected against overheating and freezing, according to this utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 This is an external schematic diagram of a water storage device for preventing overheating and freezing according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the water inlet pipe in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] In the diagram: 1. Water storage tank; 2. Inlet pipe; 3. Outlet pipe; 4. Exhaust pipe; 5. Baffle plate; 6. Guide channel. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solution of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to its embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0021] To solve the problem of water freezing in the storage tank at low temperatures, the heating components need to have higher heating power in low-temperature environments; to avoid overheating and boiling of the stored water, the heating components need to have reduced power in high-temperature environments. These two requirements necessitate the establishment of a negative feedback relationship between heating power and ambient temperature.

[0022] Reference Figure 1 , 2This utility model provides a water storage device that prevents overheating and freezing, including a water storage tank 1 and a heating assembly. The water storage tank 1 has an inlet pipe 2 at the top and an outlet pipe 3 at the bottom. The heating assembly includes a bridging circuit (a Wheatstone bridge in this embodiment) and an operational amplifier. The bridging circuit includes resistors R1, Rc, R2, and Rh connected in sequence. The node between resistors R1 and Rc is connected to one input terminal of the operational amplifier, the node between resistors R2 and Rh is connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier, the output terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a power supply, the node between resistors R1 and Rh is connected to a power supply, and the node between resistors R2 and Rc is grounded. Resistor Rc is a negative temperature coefficient thermistor used to sense the ambient temperature. Resistor Rh is a heating resistor used to heat the bottom of the water storage tank 1.

[0023] This invention constructs a bridge circuit using resistors R1 and R2, a heating resistor Rh, and a negative temperature coefficient thermistor Rc. An operational amplifier is connected to the bridge circuit to form a negative feedback circuit. When the ambient temperature rises, the resistance of the thermistor Rc decreases, and the voltage across it decreases. After adjustment by the negative feedback circuit, the voltage across the heating resistor Rh decreases, thus reducing the heating power. Conversely, when the ambient temperature decreases, the resistance of the thermistor Rc increases, and the voltage across it increases. After adjustment by the negative feedback circuit, the voltage across the heating resistor Rh increases, thus increasing the heating power. This achieves the function of lower heating power at higher ambient temperatures and higher heating power at lower ambient temperatures. It eliminates the need for relays and temperature sensors in the circuit for temperature control, and the heating component can remain in a normally open state, avoiding the problem of frequent start-stop cycles.

[0024] In this embodiment, the negative temperature coefficient thermistor can be packaged in different forms, such as a bulk ceramic structure, a multilayer ceramic stacked structure, or a ceramic thick film structure, to provide different temperature control ranges and accuracies. Rh is the main heating resistor, and R2 is packaged and connected in the heating resistor to improve energy utilization efficiency; R1 is an external precision resistor, and the resistance value of R1 is independent of temperature.

[0025] In this embodiment, due to the limited thermal conductivity of the thin-walled stainless steel, if the heating component continues to heat, the heat at the bottom of the water tank 1 will become too concentrated, and the bottom may even burn through.

[0026] Preferably, such as Figure 1 As shown, a negative temperature coefficient thermistor Rn is connected in parallel across the resistor Rh to sense the temperature of the heating pad at the bottom of the water tank 1. When the heating pad temperature exceeds a threshold, the resistance of resistor Rn decreases (resisting the resistance of Rn in parallel with Rh decreases), causing a decrease in the voltage across resistor Rh, thereby reducing the heating power and preventing the risk of burn-through due to excessive temperature concentration at the bottom of the water tank 1. The resistance of resistor Rn is much greater than that of the main heating resistor Rh within the operating temperature range.

[0027] Traditional tanks typically include an inlet and an outlet. During water intake, significant hot and cold air convection occurs at the outlet, allowing large amounts of cold outside air to enter the tank and lower the water temperature, potentially causing the water to freeze. Furthermore, the exhaust gas contains a large amount of water vapor, which can cause fogging at low temperatures. Condensation of this water vapor at the outlet can lead to blockages, affecting the water intake process of the tank. To minimize the impact of cold air, this embodiment designs the tank 1 with only one inlet pipe 2 and one outlet pipe 3, with the outlet pipe 3 connected to a ball valve.

[0028] Preferably, such as Figure 2 , 3 As shown, the water inlet pipe 2 is arranged horizontally, and the top center of the water inlet pipe 2 is connected to the exhaust pipe 4, which combines the water inlet and the exhaust port into one, which can avoid a large amount of cold air backflow affecting the water storage temperature when water is introduced under low temperature conditions; when water is introduced, the high temperature water vapor discharged from the water storage tank 1 can heat the single water inlet channel to prevent the water from freezing at the inlet.

[0029] Preferably, the inner wall of the exhaust pipe 4 is made of a hydrophobic material to prevent condensate from remaining on the inner wall of the exhaust pipe 4 for a long time, which could lead to freezing and blockage.

[0030] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, a baffle plate 5 is provided at the top of the inlet of the water inlet pipe 2. The baffle plate 5 is semi-circular, and the water inlet channel is below the baffle plate 5. The baffle plate 5 can prevent some gas from flowing out of the inlet of the water inlet pipe 2, so that the gas inside the water storage tank 1 can be discharged from the exhaust pipe 4, thus preventing gas backflow from affecting the water inlet of the water storage tank 1.

[0031] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the bottom surface of the water inlet pipe 2 is provided with a guide groove 6 along the axial direction. The guide groove 6 is made of stainless steel and has a certain degree of hydrophilicity. On the one hand, it can guide the fluid flow and avoid the problem of air blockage formed by the gas discharged during water intake and the water flow. On the other hand, it can also increase the fluid flow rate on the inner wall of the water inlet pipe 2, form local turbulence, and reduce the possibility of ice formation on the inner wall.

[0032] The water storage device in this embodiment achieves temperature control solely through the topological connection of a negative temperature coefficient thermistor Rc and a heating resistor Rh. This allows for reduced heating power in high-temperature environments and increased heating power in low-temperature environments, ensuring that the stored water does not freeze or boil within the entire ambient temperature range required for aircraft airworthiness. No relays or temperature sensors are needed to control the heating component's operation; the heating component can remain constantly on, eliminating frequent start-stop issues and extending the device's lifespan. To prevent the backflow of large amounts of cold air during water intake from affecting the water storage temperature in low-temperature conditions, and to avoid condensation of discharged water vapor at the exhaust port, the water inlet pipe 2 and exhaust pipe 4 of the water storage tank 1 are combined into a single three-way pipe structure. This structure utilizes the discharged water vapor to heat the water inlet pipe 2 while preventing the backflow of external cold air from affecting the water storage temperature.

[0033] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A water storage device that prevents overheating and freezing, characterized in that, The device includes a water storage tank (1) and a heating assembly. The water storage tank (1) has an inlet pipe (2) at the top and an outlet pipe (3) at the bottom. The heating assembly includes a bridging circuit and an operational amplifier. The bridging circuit includes resistors R1, Rc, R2 and Rh connected in sequence. The node between resistors R1 and Rc is connected to one input terminal of the operational amplifier, the node between resistors R2 and Rh is connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier, the output terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a power supply, the node between resistors R1 and Rh is connected to a power supply, and the node between resistors R2 and Rc is grounded. The resistor Rc is a thermistor with a negative temperature coefficient, used to sense the ambient temperature. The resistor Rh is a heating resistor, used to heat the bottom of the water storage tank (1).

2. The water storage device for preventing overheating and freezing as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A thermistor Rn with a negative temperature coefficient is connected in parallel across the two ends of the resistor Rh to sense the temperature of the heating pad at the bottom of the water tank (1) and control the power of the heating resistor Rh.

3. A water storage device for preventing overheating and freezing as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water inlet pipe (2) is arranged horizontally, and an exhaust pipe (4) is connected to the center of the top of the water inlet pipe (2).

4. A water storage device for preventing overheating and freezing as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The inner wall of the exhaust pipe (4) is made of a hydrophobic material.

5. A water storage device for preventing overheating and freezing as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The top of the inlet of the water inlet pipe (2) is provided with a baffle plate (5).

6. A water storage device for preventing overheating and freezing as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom surface of the water inlet pipe (2) is provided with a guide groove (6) along the axial direction.

Images