Heat Source Switching Control for Heating and Hot Water Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat source devices using a single heating unit face challenges in balancing hot water supply and heating operations, leading to discomfort for users when one user's hot water usage affects the temperature in a shared space.
Innovation Solution
A heat source device with a circulation mode switching unit and a hot water supply stop alarm system that adjusts the heat medium circulation and bypasses the heating unit to prioritize heating when hot water supply is prolonged, and vice versa, using a control unit to manage heating power and flow rates to maintain balanced operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single heating unit is used for both hot water supply and heating, then device complexity is reduced, but it becomes difficult to balance hot water supply and heating operations
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation mode switching unit dynamically switches between first circulation mode (heating priority) and second circulation mode (hot water supply priority) based on operational conditions. This dynamic switching enables a single heating unit to adaptively balance between heating and hot water supply operations, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and operational versatility.
2Quantity of substance
If hot water supply operation continues for a long time, then hot water supply quantity increases, but room temperature decreases due to insufficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors the duration of hot water supply operations and uses feedback to determine when to switch circulation modes. When hot water supply exceeds a predetermined time threshold, the system switches to first circulation mode to prioritize heating and maintain room temperature, thus balancing hot water quantity supply with temperature maintenance.
3Temperature
If heating operation is prioritized, then room temperature is maintained, but hot water supply may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation mode switching unit enables dynamic allocation of heating capacity between room heating and hot water supply based on operational duration. When heating is prioritized for extended periods, the system can switch to second circulation mode to increase hot water supply quantity, ensuring both temperature maintenance and adequate hot water availability.
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 system effectively urges users to stop excessive hot water usage by alarms and flow rate adjustments, ensuring balanced hot water supply and heating operations to maintain comfortable room temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a hot water supply heat exchanger which is connected on a way of the hot water supply bypass passage and the hot water supply passage and which heats water flowing through the hot water supply passage by heat exchange between a heat medium flowing through the hot water supply bypass passage and water flowing through the hot water supply passage
Implementation Method 2
a heat medium heating unit which is provided on a way of the heat medium circulation passage and which heats a heat medium that circulates in the heat medium circulation passage
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a heat source device including a control unit which, in response to a predetermined request for heating, sets a switching valve to a first circulation mode to communicate first and third ports, whereas to cut off communication between second and third ports, and performs a heating operation by actuating a burner and a circulation pump. In response to a predetermined request for hot water supply, the control unit sets the switching valve to a second circulation mode to communicate second and third ports, whereas to cut off communication between first and third ports, and performs a hot water supply operation, by actuating the burner and the circulation pump. A hot water supply stop alarm unit issues a hot water supply stop alarm that urges a user to stop using hot water when the request for heating is continued for a first predetermined time or more.