Control device, flow-through heater, and method for controlling a flow-through heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water heaters lack efficiency in adjusting heating output based on varying hot water demands across different usage stations, such as bathrooms and kitchens, leading to suboptimal temperature control and energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A control unit connected to a flow sensor and heat source, which determines a flow characteristic and adjusts heating output based on predefined characteristics, including time-limited sections and tolerance ranges, to optimize energy usage and temperature control by correlating flow rates with heating power adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the water heater operates at high heating output to provide hot water for all usage stations, then hot water availability is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device receives feedback from flow sensors that detect flow characteristics at different usage stations. Based on this feedback, the control device adjusts the heating output dynamically - operating at high power when kitchen usage is detected and reducing to low power when only bathroom usage is detected, thereby maintaining hot water availability while improving energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static high-power operation to dynamic power adjustment. The heating output is continuously adapted based on real-time flow characteristics detected at different stations, allowing the system to optimize between high reliability (when needed) and low energy consumption (when possible)
2Productivity
If the water heater provides high temperature hot water for kitchen usage, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates for bathroom usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides different temperature qualities to different usage stations based on their specific needs. The kitchen station receives high-temperature water for effective cleaning, while the bathroom station receives lower-temperature water for comfortable showering. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between cleaning efficiency and temperature control precision
3Reliability
If the water heater operates continuously at high power, then hot water demand coverage is improved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous high-power operation, the system implements periodic power adjustment based on detected usage patterns. The control device periodically evaluates flow characteristics from sensors and adjusts heating power accordingly, operating at high power only when and where hot water is actually needed, thereby reducing operational costs while maintaining demand coverage
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables more efficient operation of continuous-flow heaters by adjusting heating power according to actual hot water demands, improving energy efficiency and ensuring consistent temperature delivery across different usage stations.
Implementation Method 1
The flow sensor is designed to detect a flow of hot water through the heat source and to provide a flow signal that correlates with the flow through the heat source
Implementation Method 2
The heat source is designed to provide the heating output for heating the water flowing through the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
the heat exchanger having a first heat exchanger module with a first primary side, with the first primary side being coupled to the heat source
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a control device, a flow-through heater, and a method, wherein a flow rate of hot water through the flow-through heater is sensed, wherein a flow rate characteristic is determined on the basis of the sensed flow rate over a time, wherein the determined flow rate characteristic is compared with a predefined characteristic in a comparison, wherein a heating power of the flow-through heater is controlled in accordance with a result of the comparison.