Control method and apparatus for energy storage heat exchange electric water heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing energy storage heat exchange electric water heaters require a delay in activating the thermostatic valve after the flow-through electric heater to prevent repeated thermostatic adjustments, leading to increased user waiting time for hot water.
Innovation Solution
Simultaneously activate the flow-through electric heater and thermostatic valve to mix cold and hot water, allowing the flow-through electric heater to directly heat the mixed water to the desired temperature, reducing the time required for hot water output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thermostatic valve is activated after a time delay following the flow-through electric heater, then the thermostatic function is protected from repeated adjustments, but the user waiting time for hot water increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage electric heater pre-heats a large volume of water to a high temperature (e.g., 60-80°C) in advance and stores it in the water tank. This preliminary action ensures that when the user opens the tap, hot water is immediately available through the heat exchanger, eliminating the need for sequential heating and reducing waiting time while maintaining thermostatic stability
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary between the stored hot water and the cold water supply. It enables immediate heat exchange and temperature adjustment without requiring sequential activation of heating elements, allowing the thermostatic valve to function immediately while the energy storage heater maintains stable temperatures
2Use of energy by moving object
If the flow-through electric heater heats water sequentially after the thermostatic valve, then energy consumption is reduced, but the heating speed and user satisfaction decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage electric heater performs preliminary heating of large amounts of water to high temperatures before user demand occurs. This pre-heating action ensures immediate hot water availability, dramatically improving heating speed and user satisfaction while the system manages energy consumption through intelligent control of the pre-heating process
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functions of the energy storage electric heater, heat exchanger, and flow-through electric heater into a coordinated workflow. The energy storage heater provides bulk pre-heating while the heat exchanger enables immediate temperature adjustment, creating a synergistic effect that improves both heating speed and energy efficiency
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
This approach significantly reduces user waiting time for hot water by ensuring rapid temperature stabilization and efficient energy conversion.
Implementation Method 1
preliminarily heating a liquid in the water tank to a first preset temperature value by using the energy storage electric heater
Implementation Method 2
performing heat exchange on a water in the heat exchanger by using the heated liquid in the water tank to obtain a water of the first preset temperature value
Implementation Method 3
heating the mixed water outputted by the thermostatic valve to a second preset temperature value by using the flow-through electric heater
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a control method and apparatus for an energy storage heat exchange electric water heater. The energy storage heat exchange electric water heater includes a water tank, an energy storage electric heater, a heat exchanger, a flow-through electric heater and a thermostatic valve, the flow-through electric heater and the thermostatic valve are controlled to be in an activated operating state at the same time, thus the thermostatic valve is able to mix cold water with hot water outputted from the heat exchanger and then allow mixed water to flow through the flow-through electric heater for being heated. The flow-through electric heater is able to directly heat the mixed water outputted from the thermostatic valve, without heating cold water in the thermostatic valve. Therefore, the temperature of water outputted after the flow-through electric heater heats the mixed water is able to reach the second preset temperature value quickly.