A low-noise water heater

Abstract

This utility model discloses a low-noise water heater, comprising: a heating element disposed at the bottom of a cavity; the heating element includes a heating tube and a heat spreader plate, the heating tube and the heat spreader plate being thermally connected, the heat spreader plate being attached to the bottom of the cavity, and the heating tube being spirally arranged; the ratio of the thickness of the heat spreader plate to the surface load of the heating tube is greater than or equal to 40%, and the thickness of the heat spreader plate is 3.5-5mm; wherein, the effective heat transfer area ratio of the heating tube and the heat spreader plate is greater than or equal to 50%, and the heating tube and the heat spreader plate cooperate to homogenize the heat generated by the heating tube; a first through hole is provided on the lower surface of the cavity, and a water inlet pipe passes through the spiral gap of the heating tube and the first through hole in sequence; a bracket is provided on the inner surface of the cavity, the bracket being disposed on the first through hole, and the bracket being used to buffer the water flow of the water inlet pipe. This device fundamentally solves the noise problem caused by uneven heating and bubble bursting during the heating process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a water heater, specifically a low-noise water heater. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards continue to improve, their demands for quality of life are also increasing, leading to greater concern about the noise levels of home appliances. Water heaters, as one of the most commonly used household appliances, generate noise that can negatively impact user experience and quality of life, especially at night or in quiet environments, where the noise can be more noticeable and easily cause user dissatisfaction and complaints. Therefore, reducing the noise of water heaters has become an important factor in improving user satisfaction and market competitiveness. The noise of electric water heaters mainly comes from the heating element, water flow, and tank vibration. When the heating element is powered on, it produces a slight humming sound due to thermal expansion and the passage of current; the impact and vibration of water flowing through the inlet and outlet pipes and around the heating element also generate noise; furthermore, if the tank structure is not stable enough or the materials are of poor quality, vibration may occur when water flows or the heating element is operating, thus generating noise.

[0003] In traditional water heater designs, the heating element typically uses a horseshoe-shaped structure, usually consisting of one or two elements. This layout has significant drawbacks: because the heating element cannot fully cover the aluminum plate surface, most of the plate remains uncovered. In the covered area, heat is excessively concentrated, causing a rapid temperature rise at the bottom of the heater, resulting in numerous bubbles. In stark contrast, the water temperature in the uncovered area remains relatively low. This creates an uneven distribution of hot and cold water at the bottom of the heater. When the numerous bubbles generated by excessive heating encounter nearby cooler water, they burst rapidly. This continuous bursting of bubbles produces considerable noise, severely impacting the user experience and potentially disrupting daily life. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a low-noise water heater.

[0005] To solve the above problems, this utility model is implemented according to the following technical solution:

[0006] This utility model discloses a low-noise water heater, comprising: a heating assembly disposed at the bottom of a cavity; the heating assembly includes a heating tube and a heat spreader plate, the heating tube and the heat spreader plate being thermally connected, the heat spreader plate being attached to the bottom of the cavity, and the heating tube being spirally arranged; the ratio of the thickness of the heat spreader plate to the surface load of the heating tube is greater than or equal to 40%, and the thickness of the heat spreader plate is 3.5-5mm; wherein, the effective heat transfer area ratio of the heating tube and the heat spreader plate is greater than or equal to 50%, and the heating tube and the heat spreader plate cooperate to homogenize the heat generated by the heating tube; a first through hole is provided on the lower surface of the cavity, and a water inlet pipe sequentially passes through the spiral gap of the heating tube and the first through hole; a bracket is provided on the inner surface of the cavity, the bracket being disposed on the first through hole, and the bracket being used to buffer the water flow of the water inlet pipe.

[0007] Preferably, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are respectively connected to the cavity.

[0008] Preferably, the heating element is an aluminum alloy heating element.

[0009] Preferably, at least one sensor is used to monitor the state of the liquid.

[0010] Preferably, the sensor includes a temperature sensor disposed at the outlet pipe.

[0011] Preferably, the sensor further includes a liquid level and temperature sensor disposed on the wall of the cavity.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0013] This solution achieves significant noise reduction through the synergistic design of a planar spiral heating tube and a heat spreader in the heating assembly. The spiral heating tube increases the coverage area, with the effective heat transfer area accounting for ≥50%, ensuring uniform heating of the heat spreader and avoiding temperature gradients caused by localized overheating in traditional horseshoe-shaped heating tubes. The heat homogenized by the heat spreader is transferred to the bottom of the cavity, ensuring uniform heating of the liquid, reducing localized boiling, and thus suppressing the formation of large bubbles. The bubbles generated by uniform heating are small in diameter and evenly distributed, and their energy is dispersed when they burst, significantly reducing noise. Actual testing and verification show that the noise level is 5-10 dB(A) lower than traditional solutions. The heat spreader not only stores heat to balance temperature fluctuations but also provides appropriate thermal resistance, further reducing bubble bursts caused by uneven heating at the bottom of the cavity. The support is located at the water outlet of the inlet pipe, mechanically buffering the impact vibration of the water flow on the heating area, thereby reducing noise generated by the high water flow rate. This device fundamentally solves the noise problem caused by uneven heating and bubble bursts during the heating process, making it particularly suitable for home environments where quiet operation is required. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a low-noise water heater according to this utility model;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom surface of a low-noise water heater according to this utility model;

[0017] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A sectional view of section AA;

[0018] In the picture:

[0019] 1-Cavity, 11-Stent;

[0020] 2-Heating component, 21-Heating tube, 22-Heat distribution plate;

[0021] 3-Inlet pipe;

[0022] 4-Water outlet pipe;

[0023] 5-Sensors. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0025] The noise from an electric water heater mainly comes from the heating element, water flow, and tank vibration. When the heating element is powered on, it will produce a slight humming sound due to thermal expansion and the passage of current. The impact and vibration of water flowing in the inlet and outlet pipes 4 and around the heating element 21 will also generate some noise. In addition, if the tank structure is not stable enough or the material quality is poor, vibration may occur when water flows or the heating element is working, which will then generate noise.

[0026] In traditional water heater designs, the heating element typically uses a horseshoe-shaped structure, usually consisting of one or two elements. This layout has significant drawbacks: because the heating element cannot fully cover the aluminum plate surface, most of the plate remains uncovered. In the covered area, heat is excessively concentrated, causing a rapid temperature rise at the bottom of the heater, resulting in numerous bubbles. In stark contrast, the water temperature in the uncovered area remains relatively low. This creates an uneven distribution of hot and cold water at the bottom of the heater. When the numerous bubbles generated by excessive heating encounter nearby cooler water, they burst rapidly. This continuous bursting of bubbles produces considerable noise, severely impacting the user experience and potentially disrupting daily life.

[0027] To overcome the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a low-noise water heater, such as... Figures 1-2 As shown, the water heater includes: a heating assembly 2, which is disposed at the bottom of the cavity 1; the heating assembly 2 includes a heating tube 21 and a heat spreader plate 22, the heating tube 21 and the heat spreader plate 22 are thermally connected, the heat spreader plate 22 is attached to the bottom of the cavity 1, and the heating tube 21 is spirally arranged; the ratio of the thickness of the heat spreader plate 22 to the surface load of the heating tube 21 is greater than or equal to 40%, and the thickness of the heat spreader plate 22 is 3.5-5mm; wherein, the effective heat transfer area ratio of the heating tube 21 and the heat spreader plate 22 is greater than or equal to 50%, and the heating tube 21 and the heat spreader plate 22 cooperate to homogenize the heat generated by the heating tube 21; a first through hole is provided on the lower surface of the cavity 1, and a water inlet pipe 3 passes through the spiral gap of the heating tube 21 and the first through hole in sequence; a bracket 11 is provided on the inner surface of the cavity 1, the bracket 11 is disposed on the first through hole, and the bracket 11 is used to buffer the water flow of the water inlet pipe 3.

[0028] Specifically, the heating component 2 effectively reduces the noise caused by uneven water temperature in traditional heating tanks or kettles, significantly improving the user experience. The heating component 2 mainly consists of a spiral heating element and a thickened heat spreader plate 22 with a thickness within the optimal range of 3.5–5 mm. In one embodiment, the heat spreader plate 22 is a heat spreader plate made of aluminum. The two components work together to ensure uniform heating of the bottom of the heating element, avoiding the formation of large bubbles caused by localized heat concentration and the noise problems caused by bubble bursting.

[0029] With its unique structure, the spiral heating tube greatly increases the contact area with the heat spreader 22. Compared with the traditional one or two horseshoe-shaped heating tubes (traditional heating tubes are horseshoe-shaped and are generally composed of one or two), the spiral heating tube has a wider coverage area. It can effectively avoid the drawbacks of the traditional structure, where most of the area of ​​the heat spreader 22 cannot be covered by the heating tube, resulting in uneven temperature distribution at the bottom of the heat tank, local overheating, and the generation of a large number of bubbles. Furthermore, the bubbles are prone to bursting when they encounter cold water, causing noise.

[0030] The thickened heat spreader plate 22 serves as a heat transfer medium. While uniformly receiving heat from the heating element, it can store some heat and form a certain thermal resistance. This reduces the temperature transferred to the bottom of the heating element, further reducing the risk of large bubbles caused by excessive heat concentration at the bottom of the heating element. This effectively reduces heating noise, making the heating process more stable and quiet, and creating a more comfortable living environment for users.

[0031] It should be noted that if the entire surface of the heat spreader 22 is covered with heating tubes and the thickness of the heat spreader 22 is precisely controlled within the optimal range of 3.5 to 5 mm, then the entire bottom of the heat tank will achieve the most ideal uniform heating effect, and the water inside will not produce excessively large or easily broken bubbles due to local excessively high or low temperatures.

[0032] In one embodiment, the heating element 21 is an aluminum alloy heating element 21. In this embodiment, the aluminum alloy heating element 21 is used as a preferred implementation. The aluminum alloy heating element 21, through its high thermal conductivity material and spiral full-coverage layout, significantly improves the temperature uniformity at the bottom of the heat exchanger. Combined with a heat-dissipating aluminum plate, it can further suppress bubble noise.

[0033] In one embodiment, the inlet pipe 3 and the outlet pipe 4 are respectively connected to the cavity 1. The coaxiality error between the center of the through hole and the spiral center axis of the heating tube 21 is ≤0.1mm to avoid uneven wear of the inlet pipe 3. The inner edge of the through hole adopts a radius of 0.5mm to reduce water flow turbulence noise, which can reduce high-frequency noise by 3-5dB. The gap between the outer wall of the water pipe and the heating tube 21 is ≥2mm to avoid local overheating of the water pipe due to heat conduction. The bracket 11 is deflected by 2-3° from the axis of the inlet pipe 3 to guide the water flow along the wall and avoid impact from the central jet. The spiral heating tube 21 is equipped with a uniform temperature aluminum plate to ensure that the temperature difference at the bottom of the heating tank is ≤3℃, the bubble diameter is controlled at 0.3-0.8mm, and the bursting noise is reduced by 40%. The bracket 11 is set at the outlet of the inlet pipe 3, which can break the large eddy into small eddy when the water flows into the inner tank, so there is no need to worry about the water flow rate of the inlet pipe 3 and the pressure pulsation noise is reduced. Suitable for products such as instant hot water dispensers and high-end electric kettles where strict noise reduction is required.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, at least one sensor 5 is provided to monitor the state of the liquid. The sensor 5 includes a temperature sensor 5 located at the outlet pipe 4 and a liquid level temperature sensor 5 located on the wall of the cavity 1. Specifically, the temperature sensor 5 located at the outlet pipe 4 can monitor the temperature change of the liquid in real time and accurately, providing crucial temperature data for the system. The liquid level temperature sensor 5 on the wall of the cavity 1 can simultaneously monitor the liquid level height within the cavity 1 and the temperature at that location. The combination of these two sensors provides more comprehensive and accurate monitoring of the liquid's state, helping to promptly grasp detailed information about the liquid at different locations and states, thus facilitating better control and management. The liquid temperature information fed back by the temperature sensor 5 at the outlet pipe 4 allows for more reasonable adjustments to the liquid transport process, such as adjusting the flow rate, the operation of heating or cooling devices based on temperature changes, ensuring that the liquid temperature meets specific requirements during transport. The data monitored by the liquid level and temperature sensor 5 on the wall of cavity 1 can be used to accurately control the liquid level, prevent equipment failure or safety hazards caused by excessively high or low liquid levels, and also effectively manage the temperature of the liquid in cavity 1 according to the temperature conditions, such as starting heating or cooling programs, so that the equipment operates more stably and efficiently, and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0035] In one embodiment, the heat transfer area of ​​the heating tube 21 is S = 20218 mm². 2 The heat conduction area of ​​the heat spreader 22 is S1 = 13273 mm². 2 The heat transfer area of ​​the bottom surface of the inner liner is S2 = 11875 mm². 2 The effective heat exchange area of ​​heating tube 21 is S3 = 6779 mm². 2 The surface load of heating element 21 is 8 W / cm². 2 .

[0036] The thickness H of the heat spreader 22 is 3.5 mm. The relationship between the thickness H of the heat spreader 22 and the surface load of the heating tube 21 is 3.5 / 8 = 43.8%; the ratio must be greater than or equal to 40%.

[0037] The relationship between the heat transfer area S1 of the heat spreader 22 and the effective heat transfer area S3 of the heating element is S3 / S1=51%; the ratio must be greater than or equal to 50%.

[0038] However, the traditional double-tube horseshoe-shaped heating element has a heat transfer area of ​​10298 mm². 2 Effective heat transfer area 3848mm 2 The traditional double-tube horseshoe-shaped heating element uses a 3mm thick aluminum plate, and its heating element surface load is 14.5W / cm². 2Therefore, the relationship between its thickness and the surface load of the traditional double-tube horseshoe-shaped heating element is 3 / 14.5 = 20.6%. The area of ​​the configured aluminum plate is 8842 mm². 2 The relationship between the heat transfer area S1' of the aluminum plate and the effective heat transfer area S3' of the double-tube horseshoe-shaped heating element is S3' / S1' = 43.5%.

[0039] The research and practical data are shown in Table 1 below:

[0040]

[0041] Other structural features of the low-noise water heater described in this embodiment are found in the prior art.

[0042] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model in any way. Therefore, any modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present utility model without departing from the technical solution of the present utility model shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A low-noise water heater, characterized by comprising: The water heater includes: A heating assembly is disposed at the bottom of the cavity; the heating assembly includes a heating tube and a heat spreader plate, the heating tube and the heat spreader plate are thermally connected, the heat spreader plate is attached to the bottom of the cavity, and the heating tube is arranged in a spiral shape; The ratio of the thickness of the heat spreader to the surface load of the heating tube is greater than or equal to 40%, and the thickness of the heat spreader is 3.5 to 5 mm. Wherein, the effective heat transfer area ratio of the heating tube and the heat spreader is greater than or equal to 50%, and the heating tube and the heat spreader work together to homogenize the heat generated by the heating tube. The lower surface of the cavity is provided with a first through hole, and the water inlet pipe passes through the spiral gap of the heating tube and the first through hole in sequence. A bracket is provided on the inner surface of the cavity, and the bracket is disposed on the first through hole. The bracket is used to buffer the water flow of the water inlet pipe.

2. The low-noise water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inlet pipe and outlet pipe are respectively connected to the cavity.

3. A low-noise water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating element is an aluminum alloy heating element.

4. A low noise water heater as claimed in claim 2 wherein, The water heater also includes: At least one sensor for monitoring the state of the liquid.

5. A low-noise water heater according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sensor includes a temperature sensor installed at the outlet pipe.

6. A low-noise water heater according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sensor also includes a liquid level and temperature sensor disposed on the wall of the cavity.

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