Water heating device

Abstract

The invention relates to a water heating device, comprising a space (1) which is filled with water, an electrical heating device (2) which is provided for heating up the water in the space (1), and a power electronics system (3) which is arranged by the space (1) and is provided for controlling the heating device (2). According to the invention, provision is made, for the controlled transmission of heat, for an electrothermal transducer (4) to be provided between the power electronics system (3) and a wall (1.1), which is in contact with the water, of the space (1).

Description

[0001] What is called device

[0002] The invention relates to a water heating device according to the preamble of claim 1. 5

[0003] A water heating device of the type mentioned above is known from patent document DE 20 2004 012 263 U1. This water heating device, designed as a continuous-flow heater, consists of a water-filled chamber, an electric heating device provided for heating the water in the chamber, and power electronics arranged in the chamber for controlling the heating device. In this solution, the chamber is designed as a water-carrying pipe.

[0004] To cool the power electronics, its 15 triacs are designed to transfer waste heat to the water in the room. The existing temperature gradient determines the actual heat transfer.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of improving a water heating device of the type mentioned above. In particular, a water heating device with a precisely controlled cooling system for the power electronics is to be created.

[0006] This object is achieved with a water heating device of the type mentioned at the beginning 25 by the features listed in the characterising part of patent claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, an electrothermal converter, in particular a Peltier element, is provided for the controlled transfer of heat between the power electronics and a wall of the room in contact with the water.

[0008] In other words, the water heating device according to the invention is characterized by the fact that, with the aid of the electro-thermal converter, it is possible to precisely determine how much heat is to be transferred from the power electronics to the water. Or, to put it the other way around: the cooling of the power electronics can be precisely controlled according to the invention.

[0009] 10

[0010] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the term "regulation" used in this application is used in the sense of the English term "control," i.e., it corresponds either, preferably, to a control with feedback, or, alternatively, to a control without feedback. In other words, the latter option in patent claim 1 could also read as follows: "for feedback-free control of the heating device" or "for feedback-free controlled transfer of heat."

[0011] 20 Other advantageous developments emerge from the dependent patent claims .

[0012] The water heating device according to the invention, including its advantageous developments according to the dependent patent claims, is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing of a preferred embodiment.

[0013] It shows schematically

[0014] 30

[0015] Figure 1 shows a section through the water heating device according to the invention. The water heating device shown in the single figure consists, in a manner known per se, of a space 1 filled with water, an electric heating device 2 provided for heating the water in the space 1, and power electronics 3 arranged on the space 1 for regulating the heating device 2.

[0016] The said space 1 is preferably designed either as a hot water storage tank of a heating system or as a flow space (in particular a pipe) of an electric instantaneous water heater.

[0017] What is essential for the water heating device according to the invention is that an electrothermal converter 4 is provided for the controlled transfer of heat between the power electronics 3 and a preferably metallic wall 1 of the space 1 that is in contact with the water. In procedural terms, the heat generated at the power electronics 3 is transferred to the water in the space 1 with the aid of the electrothermal converter 4. This provision ultimately even makes it possible to make the power electronics 3 smaller than before due to the targeted use of the waste heat.

[0018] 25 Looking at this in more detail, it is particularly preferably provided that, in order to adjust the transfer of heat (i.e. in particular the actual amount of heat), a current flowing through the electrothermal converter 4f is designed to be controllable, preferably via a higher-level control device of the water heating device. For this purpose, it is further preferably provided that a power supply connection 4.1 of the electrothermal converter 4 is electrically connected to a power output connection 3.1 of the power electronics 3. Or again in slightly different words: The power electronics 3 and the electrothermal converter 4 are preferably electrically connected to one another and designed to have the same current flowing through them.

[0019] In particular, in the event that the water heating device is arranged in a comparatively warm environment, it is further preferably provided that the electrothermal converter 4 is designed to absorb heat from the air surrounding the electrothermal converter 4.

[0020] In order to be able to heat the water in the room 1 particularly efficiently, it is further preferably provided that the electrical heating device 2 is designed as a resistance heater arranged in the room 1, in particular as a heating rod.

[0021] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the power electronics 3 optionally comprises at least one thyristor, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, a bipolar transistor and / or another semiconductor.

[0022] Finally (looking at it more closely) it is particularly preferred that the electrothermal converter 4 is designed as a Peltier element (see also https : / / de . wikipedia . org / w / index . php?title=Peltier- Element&oldid=213265538 ). List of reference symbols

[0023] 1 room

[0024] 1.1 Wall

[0025] 2 heating device

[0026] 3 Power electronics

[0027] 3.1 Power supply connection

[0028] 4 electrothermal converter

[0029] 4.1 Power supply connection

Claims

Patent claims 1. Water heating device comprising a water-filled space (1), an electric heating device (2) for heating the water in the space (1) and power electronics (3) arranged on the space (1) for controlling the heating device (2), characterized in that an electrothermal converter (4) is provided for controlled heat transfer between the power electronics (3) and a wall (1.1) of the space (1) in contact with the water.

2. Water heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that a current flowing through the electrothermal transducer (4) is designed to be controllable in order to adjust the transfer of heat.

3. Water heating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a power supply connection (4.1) of the electrothermal converter (4) is electrically connected to a power output connection (3.1) of the power electronics (3). A water heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrothermal transducer (4) is designed to absorb heat from the air surrounding the electrothermal transducer (4). A water heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the space (1) is optionally designed as a hot water storage tank of a heating system or as a flow chamber of an electric instantaneous water heater. A water heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electric heating device (2) is designed as a resistance heater arranged in the space (1). A water heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the power electronics (3) optionally comprise at least one thyristor, one metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, one bipolar transistor and / or another semiconductor.Water heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electrothermal transducer (4) is designed as a Peltier element. Water heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the wall (1.1) is metallic. Method for operating a water heating device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that heat generated at the power electronics (3) is transferred to the water located in the room (1) by means of the electrothermal converter (4).

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