Water Heater Master-Slave Switching for Remote Control Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hot water supply systems with multiple water heaters operating cooperatively, failure of the master water heater disrupts remote operation and requires manual intervention to restore functionality, especially when communication between the master and remote control is lost.
Innovation Solution
Assigning identification numbers to water heaters to dynamically switch roles between master and slave based on priority, allowing continuous operation and remote control functionality even if the initial master fails, through a communication system that enables data transmission and storage of operation conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a master water heater is designated to receive remote control operations, then remote operation functionality is improved, but if the master water heater fails, the system loses remote operation capability and requires manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
Each water heater is pre-configured with a unique identification number that determines its priority level. This preliminary assignment of identification numbers enables the system to automatically determine which water heater should become the new master if the current master fails, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and ensuring continuous remote operation capability.
2Device complexity
If manual intervention is required to switch master water heater upon failure, then system complexity is reduced, but operation downtime increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The water heater system performs automatic master-slave role switching without requiring manual intervention. When the master water heater fails, the remaining water heaters automatically execute a role switching process based on their pre-assigned identification numbers, with the highest-priority available water heater becoming the new master. This self-service mechanism eliminates operation downtime and maintains ease of operation while keeping system complexity manageable.
3Productivity
If multiple water heaters are configured with master-slave relationships, then hot water supply capacity is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to single point of failure for remote control
Solution Approach 1:
The master-slave relationship in the water heater system is dynamic rather than fixed. The master water heater is determined automatically based on real-time operational status and pre-assigned identification numbers. This dynamic role assignment allows the system to adapt to failures and maintain remote control functionality, as any operational water heater can become the master and receive remote control operations, thereby improving both productivity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Each of the water heaters 1 performs a master and slave setting process that transmits prescribed response data to the other water heaters 1 via a communication line 8 at a timing according to its own identification number and different from those of the other water heaters in a prescribed master and slave setting time period, that sets the water heater itself to slave in a case of receiving the response data from another water heater 1 assigned with an identification number having a priority higher than its own identification number in the master and slave setting time period, and that sets the water heater itself to master in a case of not receiving the response data from another water heater assigned with an identification number having a priority higher than its own identification number in the master and slave setting time period.