Uninterruptible power supply component and hot water appliance
The integration of a modular power supply component without cut-offs into hot water devices ensures continuous cathodic protection, addressing the issue of corrosion during electrical failures and providing reliable operation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023001042
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-02-10
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-02-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing hot water devices rely on electrical power from the network for cathodic protection, which is not available during electrical failures, leading to potential corrosion of metal components.
Integration of a modular power supply component without cut-offs into the hot water device, comprising a holder element, an energy accumulation component (such as a battery), and a loading circuit card, which allows for continuous protection against corrosion even during power outages.
The solution provides a reliable and continuous power supply for cathodic protection, minimizing corrosion risks and allowing for easy installation and maintenance, even in areas with frequent power outages.
Smart Images
Figure 00000013_0000 
Figure 00000014_0000 
Figure 00000015_0000
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Uninterruptible power supply component and hot water appliance
[0001] The present invention relates to an uninterruptible power supply component configured to be integrated within a housing of a hot water appliance, a corresponding hot water appliance and a corresponding method.
[0002] In water treatment, for example in domestic hot water storage tanks, the use of applied current cathodic protection is widely used. This includes the application of a protective current between an anode provided within a water tank and the surrounding tank, usually made of metal. The protective current prevents corrosion of the tank and is generally only applied when the water treatment apparatus, for example the hot water storage tank, is connected to the electricity network.
[0003] In such applications, it may be necessary to ensure the protective current even when the mains electricity supply is temporarily unavailable, for example during a power outage. It is therefore necessary to integrate an uninterruptible power supply. This may, however, not be necessary for all markets or applications, so a modular uninterruptible power supply is preferred, which can be installed if necessary.
[0004] Accordingly, an object of the present application has been to integrate a modular uninterruptible power supply into an existing water treatment apparatus, for example a hot water storage tank, while minimizing the necessary structural adaptations made to the existing water treatment apparatus.
[0005] This object is solved by the uninterruptible power supply component and the tank water heater as defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are recited in the dependent claims.
[0006] In a first aspect, an uninterruptible power supply component configured to be integrated within a housing of a hot water appliance is provided. The uninterruptible power supply component comprises a battery holder member, an energy storage component, preferably a battery, and a charging circuit board for charging the energy storage component. The battery holder member comprises an energy storage mounting portion for mounting the energy storage component, a charging circuit board mounting portion for mounting the charging circuit board, and a separating portion for separating the energy storage mounting portion from the charging circuit board.
[0007] The battery holder element is designed to be interposed between the housing and a power electronics of the hot water appliance such that the separation part separates the energy storage component from the power electronics.
[0008] The uninterruptible power supply component according to the present disclosure can be inserted into a restricted mounting space within the hot water appliance. It allows uninterruptible power supply of the applied current corrosion protection. It can be retrofitted as a module on existing hot water appliances.
[0009] The battery holder element allows easy access and replacement of the energy storage component. Furthermore, it makes it possible to reliably mount the charging circuit board and the energy storage component on the hot water appliance.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the separation portion is oriented substantially perpendicular to the load circuit board mounting portion.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the energy storage mounting portion comprises two projections on opposite sides of the separation portion forming a linear guide and a mounting support for the energy storage component, the projections in particular having an L-shape.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the energy storage mounting portion is substantially flat and / or adapted to be arranged substantially parallel to the housing of the hot water appliance.
[0013] Any of these arrangements, individually or in combination, contributes to an optimization of heat exchange through the housing. Furthermore, the available mounting space is optimally utilized.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the battery holder element is made of folded metal sheets forming the energy storage mounting portion, the charging circuit board mounting portion and the separation portion.
[0015] A folded sheet material is easy and cost-effective to manufacture. In addition, the number of parts required can be minimized.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the load circuit board is configured to switch, in particular using a relay, between power from the hot water appliance and power from the energy storage component for applying a corrosion protection current to an anode.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the charging circuit board comprises a power converter configured to charge the energy storage component using the electrical mains, directly.
[0018] In a further aspect, a hot water apparatus is provided, in particular a A tank water heater, comprising an uninterruptible power supply component according to one aspect of the present disclosure.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the hot water appliance comprises a housing having a maintenance access panel, the uninterruptible power supply component being mounted behind the maintenance access panel.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the hot water appliance is a wall-mounted tank water heater and the maintenance access panel is located at a bottom surface or bottom area side of the housing.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the hot water appliance comprises a housing having a user interface panel accessible from outside the housing, wherein the uninterruptible power supply component is mounted behind the user interface panel.
[0022] According to a further aspect, a method is provided for retrofitting a hot water appliance, in particular a tank water heater, with an uninterruptible power supply component according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The method comprises the steps of switching an existing connection between a control circuit board and an applied current anode of the hot water appliance; connecting the load circuit board of the uninterruptible power supply component to the applied current anode; connecting the load circuit board to mains connectors of the hot water appliance; and optionally fixing, mechanically, in particular by means of screws, the battery holder element of the uninterruptible power supply component to the hot water appliance.
[0023] Additional examples and additional advantages will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:
[0024] [Fig.l] schematically and exemplarily illustrates an overview of a hot water appliance comprising an uninterruptible power supply component according to the disclosure.
[0025] [Fig.2] schematically and exemplarily illustrates a battery holder element of the uninterruptible power supply component.
[0026] [Fig.3] schematically and exemplarily illustrates a developed view of the battery holder element of [Fig.2].
[0027] [Fig.4] schematically and exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of the uninterruptible power supply component.
[0028] [Fig.5] schematically and exemplarily illustrates an additional perspective view of the uninterruptible power supply component.
[0029] [Fig.6] schematically and exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the uninterruptible power supply component and parts of the water appliance hot.
[0030] [Fig.7] schematically and exemplarily illustrates the components of [Fig.6] in an assembled state.
[0031] [Fig.8] schematically and exemplarily illustrates a wiring diagram of a hot water appliance including the uninterruptible power supply component.
[0032] [Fig.9] schematically and exemplarily illustrates a battery holder element of the uninterruptible power supply component.
[0033] [Fig.l] schematically and exemplarily illustrates a hot water appliance 1, in particular a tank water heater suspended from the wall from below. A heating flange 2 is attached to a tank inside a housing 3 of the hot water appliance 1. The heating flange 2 is accessible, for example for maintenance purposes, via a maintenance opening 4 in the housing 3. The maintenance opening may be covered by a maintenance access panel, for example.
[0034] The heating flange 2, in this example, incorporates all the components that must be provided within the tank. For example, the heating flange 2 comprises, among other things, one or more heating elements 5, a corrosion protection anode 6, for example an applied current anode, and a drainage screw 8. A temperature sensor is used but not shown. In other examples, for example in standing tank water heaters, certain components may be inserted into the tank through different openings apart from the heating flange 2.
[0035] Power is supplied to the heating element(s) from a control board 7, which may include power electronics. In [Fig.l], the wiring is not shown to facilitate viewing of the remaining components.
[0036] In addition to the control board 7, the hot water appliance 1 comprises an uninterruptible power supply component 10 which can maintain the corrosion protection with current applied via the corrosion protection anode 6 even in the case where the power supply to the hot water appliance 1 is cut off.
[0037] The uninterruptible power supply component 10 will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to 6.
[0038] Figures 2 and 3 schematically and exemplarily illustrate a battery holder element 12, which is part of the uninterruptible power supply component 10. The battery holder element 12 in this example is formed of metal sheet. In [Fig. 2], the battery holder element 12 is illustrated in its folded state in a perspective view, in which in [Fig. 3] the battery holder element 12 is illustrated in its unfolded state in a planar developed view.
[0039] In Figures 4 to 6, the battery holder element 12 is illustrated in more detail with the mounted energy storage component 50, for example a battery, a card charging circuit 60 for charging the energy storage component and a holder 70 for a fuse.
[0040] The battery holder element 12 comprises an energy storage mounting portion 14 for mounting the energy storage component 50. The energy storage mounting portion 14 comprises two projections 16, 18, on opposite sides of a separation portion 20, which separates the energy storage mounting portion 14 from a charging circuit board (see [Fig. 5]).
[0041] The projection 16 is in an L-shape so as to fix the energy storage component 50 both horizontally and vertically. Alternatively or additionally, the projection 18 could be in an L-shape. Furthermore, a different shape for the projections 16, 18 is envisaged as long as the energy storage component 50 can be removably and slidably inserted into the guide along a mounting direction 22.
[0042] At the end of the linear guide along the mounting direction 22, an end stop 24 is formed, which defines the mounting position of the energy storage component 50 together with the projections 16, 18.
[0043] Substantially parallel to the end stop 24, a wall 26 projects from the separating portion 20 to form a clamping mount between the end stop 24 and the wall 26. For example, a fuse in the holder 70 may be inserted into the clamping mount as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
[0044] A charging circuit board mounting portion 30, including mounting holes 32 for mounting a charging circuit board 60, is arranged substantially perpendicular to the separation portion 20.
[0045] Furthermore, a component mounting portion 40, comprising mounting holes 42 for mounting the uninterruptible power supply component 10 on the housing 3 of the hot water appliance 1, is provided substantially perpendicular to both the partition portion 20 and the load circuit board mounting portion 30. A connection opening 44 within the component mounting portion allows access to connection terminals 62 provided on the load circuit board 60.
[0046] As can be seen in [Fig. 4], the charging circuit board 60 may include a relay 64, which will be described in the context of the wiring diagram with reference to [Fig. 8]. The design of the battery holder element 12 also allows the large dimensions of the transformer 67 to be accommodated. In other words, the available installation space is used optimally.
[0047] In this example, the charging circuit board 60 is connected to the charging circuit board mounting portion 30 using plug-in connectors 66, which allows for easy snap-on mounting. In other examples, screws or other fixing means may be used alternatively.
[0048] [Fig.5] illustrates a different perspective view of the power supply without cutout 1 shown in [Fig. 4]. Through a relatively large opening 34 in the charging circuit board mounting portion 30, a portion of the charging circuit board 60 can be observed. The opening 34 allows heat dissipation also to the rear side of the charging circuit board 60 and allows the overall amount of material and thus the cost required for the battery holder element 12 to be reduced.
[0049] [Fig.6] schematically and exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the uninterruptible power supply component 10 and the control board 7 of the hot water appliance 1. Screws 46 are shown for securing the uninterruptible power supply component 10.
[0050] [Fig.7] schematically and exemplarily illustrates the components of [Fig.6] in an assembled state.
[0051] The battery holder element 12 according to the present invention makes it possible to reserve the necessary space for the addition of fuses in a fuse box, for example a fuse in the holder 70. The storage water heater, within which the battery holder element 12 is installed, is specifically designed for, for example, the French market, in which permanent operation of the corrosion protection system is required by law.
[0052] When there is a shutdown period at the device, there will be no corrosion protection when injected current corrosion protection is used. This is generally not critical, if the shutdown period is short. But in France, for example, a normative provision is established according to which the devices must be protected all the time. According to the present disclosure, an energy storage component 50, also called a battery pack, is installed to cover these shutdown periods to protect the balloon against corrosion.
[0053] In some embodiments, the capacity of the battery pack is sufficient to supply corrosion protection current for a minimum duration, e.g., for at least 8 hours, preferably for at least 16 hours, and most preferably for at least one day.
[0054] The present disclosure solves the problem of excessive heating of the energy storage component 50 by means of separation by the battery holder element 12. The energy storage component 50 is furthermore sufficiently separated from the remaining electronics on the control board 7 and is remote, and therefore at least somewhat thermally insulated, from the storage tank.
[0055] In Figures 1 to 7, an exemplary wall-mounted device of a hot water appliance 1 is illustrated. The access or maintenance opening 4 is under the device and the heating elements are inserted from below the device. The present disclosure, however, applies equally to devices in a standing position, which generally have access or a maintenance opening at an upper position of the device, for example behind a user interface.
[0056] In all hot water appliances 1, the battery holder element 12 ensures positioning of the energy storage component 50 substantially between the electronics and the corrosion protection anode to facilitate the connection and assembly of the uninterruptible power supply 10 and the hot water appliance 1.
[0057] [Fig.8] schematically and exemplarily illustrates a wiring diagram of a hot water appliance 1. For the present invention, only the wiring for the uninterruptible power supply of the corrosion protection anode 6 is important and the rest of the wiring will be omitted.
[0058] The energy storage component 50 is connected to a terminal X4 of the charging circuit board 60 via a fuse 80, which may be the holder 70 described previously or a different fuse. The charging circuit board 60 serves to charge the energy storage component 50 and to switch the current applied to the anode 6, via a terminal X2, between a power supplied, via a terminal X3, from the control board 7 and a power supplied, via the terminal X4, from the energy storage component 50. For this purpose, the transformer 64 (not shown in [Fig. 8]) is provided.
[0059] Generally, the corrosion protection power supplied by the control board 7 is controlled, by the control board 7, to ensure adequate corrosion protection. The power for charging the energy storage component 50 is thus not derived from the power for corrosion protection, i.e. it does not interfere with the ongoing corrosion protection, but taken directly from the electrical network via an XL terminal. Corrosion protection is thus maintained permanently even in the case where the energy storage component 50 is discharged or empty after a power failure.
[0060] In other words, the charging of the energy storage component 50 is only carried out using power obtained via terminal XI directly from the mains terminals and not using power obtained via terminal X3 from the control board 7.
[0061] In this example, the energy storage component 50 comprises a fixed voltage and thus provides a corrosion protection current dependent on the resistance of the system. It is acceptable for the corrosion protection current by the energy storage component 50 to be less than the protection current against corrosion maintained permanently. This is the case because the auxiliary corrosion protection by means of the energy storage component 50 is not permanent but only temporary corrosion protection. Therefore, the voltage of the energy storage component 50 and thus the capacity and dimensions of the energy storage component 50 can be kept low.
[0062] The uninterruptible power supply component 10 can be provided as a module for retrofitting into an existing hot water appliance 1 without interfering with the control device of the hot water appliance 1. For the installation of the uninterruptible power supply component 10, it is simply necessary to switch the existing connection between the control board 7 and the applied current anode 6 to terminal X3 of the load circuit board 60, and to newly connect the load circuit board 60 to the applied current anode 6. Finally, the load circuit board 60 can be connected to the mains connectors of the hot water appliance 1.
[0063] List of references:
[0064] 1 Hot water appliance 2 Heating flange 3 Case 4 Maintenance opening 5 heating elements 6 Corrosion protection anode 7 Control circuit board 8 Drainage screws
[0065] 10 Uninterruptible power supply component 12 Battery holder element 14 Energy storage mounting part 16 Projection 18 Projection 20 Separation Part 22 Mounting Direction 24 End stop 26 Wall 30 Charging circuit board mounting part 32 Mounting Holes 34 Opening 40 Component mounting part 42 Mounting Holes 44 Connection opening 46 Screws 50 Energy Storage Component 60 Charging circuit board 62 Connection terminals 64 Relays 66 Connectors 67 Transformer 70 Fuse Holder 80 Fuse XI, X2, X3, X4 Terminal
Claims
Claims
1. An uninterruptible power supply component (10) configured to be integrated inside a housing of a hot water appliance (1), the uninterruptible power supply component (10) comprising: - a battery holder element (12), - an energy storage component (50), preferably a battery, and - a charging circuit board (60) for charging the energy storage component (50), the battery holder element (12) comprising - an energy storage mounting portion (14) for mounting the energy storage component (50), - a charging circuit board mounting portion (30) for mounting the charging circuit board (60), and - a separating portion (20) for separating the energy storage mounting portion (14) from the charging circuit board (60),wherein the battery holder element (12) is designed to be interposed between the housing and a power electronics of the hot water appliance (1) such that the separating part (20) separates the energy storage component (50) from the power electronics.,
2. An uninterruptible power supply component (10) according to claim 1, the separation portion (20) being oriented substantially perpendicular to the load circuit board mounting portion (30).
3. An uninterruptible power supply component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, the energy storage mounting portion (14) comprising two projections (16, 18) at opposite sides of the separation portion (20) forming a linear guide and a mounting support for the energy storage component (50) therebetween, preferably at least one of the projections (16, 18) having an L-shape.
4. An uninterruptible power supply component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy storage mounting portion (14) is substantially flat and / or adapted to be arranged substantially parallel to the housing of the hot water appliance (1).
5. An uninterruptible power supply component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery holder element (12) is made of folded metal sheets forming at least the energy storage mounting portion (14), the charging circuit board mounting portion (30) and the separation portion (20).
6. Uninterruptible power supply component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the load circuit board (60) is configured to switch, in particular by means of a relay (64), between power from the hot water appliance (1) and power from the energy storage component (50) for the application of a corrosion protection current to an anode (6).
7. An uninterruptible power supply component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging circuit board (60) comprises a power converter configured to charge the energy storage component (50) using the electrical mains, directly.
8. Hot water appliance (1), in particular a tank water heater, comprising an uninterruptible power supply component (10) according to one of the preceding claims.
9. A hot water appliance (1) according to claim 8, comprising a housing having a maintenance access panel, the uninterruptible power supply component (10) being mounted behind the maintenance access panel.
10. A hot water appliance (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the hot water appliance (1) is a wall-mounted tank water heater and the maintenance access panel is located at a bottom surface or a bottom area side of the housing.
11. A hot water appliance (1) according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a housing having a user interface panel accessible from outside the housing, wherein the uninterruptible power supply component (10) is mounted behind the user interface panel.
12. Method for renovating a hot water appliance (1), in particular a tank water heater, with an uninterruptible power supply component (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following steps: - switching an existing connection between a control circuit board (7) and an applied current anode (6) of the water appliance hot (1), - connecting the load circuit board (60) of the uninterruptible power supply component (10) to the applied current anode (6), - the connection of the charging circuit board (60) to mains connectors of the hot water appliance (1), and optionally - fixing, mechanically, in particular using screws (44), the battery holder element (12) of the uninterruptible power supply component (10) to the hot water appliance (1).