Electric Water Heater Safety Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric water heaters lack a reliable safety control system to prevent overheating and ensure safe temperature adjustment of discharged water, which can lead to user safety hazards and health risks.
Innovation Solution
A safety control system for electric water heaters that includes a heating module with multiple heating elements arranged in sequence, a sensing module with temperature sensors to monitor water temperatures, and a microcontroller to adjust heating element operations based on set water temperatures, ensuring consistent and safe water temperature delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional temperature control switch is used to maintain water temperature, then the heater can operate automatically, but the system lacks reliable safety control when the temperature control switch fails, leading to overheating hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating system into multiple independent heating elements (first heating element, second heating element, third heating element) with separate control circuits. Each heating element can be independently controlled and monitored, so that if one element or its control fails, the other elements can still provide safe operation. This segmentation isolates potential failure points and prevents system-wide overheating hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where temperature sensors continuously monitor water temperature and feed this information back to the microcontroller. The microcontroller adjusts the heating elements based on this feedback to maintain safe temperature levels. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable safety control by constantly detecting and responding to temperature changes, preventing overheating even if the primary temperature control switch fails.
2Productivity
If the heater continuously heats to maintain normal water temperature, then heating efficiency is improved, but user safety is compromised when abnormal overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary safety measures by placing temperature sensors and control circuits that continuously monitor heating conditions before dangerous overheating can occur. The system proactively detects temperature trends and adjusts heating element operation in advance to prevent overheating hazards, rather than merely reacting after failure occurs. This preliminary action maintains heating efficiency while preemptively eliminating safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the control system with built-in safety margins and protective mechanisms that cushion against potential overheating failures. The multiple temperature sensors and staged heating element control create buffer zones that prevent the system from reaching dangerous temperature levels even under abnormal conditions. This beforehand cushioning allows continuous efficient heating while protecting users from overheating hazards.
3Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors and heating elements are added to improve safety control, then temperature monitoring accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple temperature sensors and heating elements into an integrated control system managed by a single microcontroller. The microcontroller coordinates all sensors and heating elements, merging their functions into a unified safety control mechanism. This integration maintains high temperature monitoring accuracy through multiple sensors while managing system complexity through centralized control logic, avoiding the need for separate independent control systems for each component.
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 adjusts water temperatures to match set values, preventing overheating and ensuring user safety by controlling heating element operations and detecting potential failures, thereby saving electricity and reducing health risks.
Implementation Method 1
a heating module, comprising a first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element arranged in the first pipeline in sequence
Implementation Method 2
a sensing module, comprising a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit, a third sensing unit, and a fourth sensing unit, where the first sensing unit is arranged on the water inlet pipe and is configured to sense a first temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A safety control system for an electric water heater includes: an inner tank, having a first pipeline, the inner tank including a water inlet connected with a water inlet pipe and a water outlet connected to a water outlet pipe, the water inlet pipe connected to a cold water source and in communication with the first pipeline through the water inlet, and the water outlet pipe in communication with the first pipeline through the water outlet; a heating module, arranged in the first pipeline; a sensing module, configured to sense a temperature of a cold water source flowing through the first pipeline; and a control device, configured to: verify whether the temperature is consistent with a set water temperature, and control on/off and a heating temperature of the heating module until the temperature is consistent with the set water temperature if a result of the verification is no.