CN110550749A

CN110550749A - hot water supply system, water softening equipment and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN110550749A
Application number: CN201910879835.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 段良宝; 付卫刚; 李俊超
Original assignee: AO Smith China Water Heater Co Ltd; AO Smith China Environmental Products Co Ltd
Current assignee: AO Smith China Water Heater Co Ltd; AO Smith China Environmental Products Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-18
Filing date: 2019-09-18
Publication date: 2019-12-10

Abstract

The embodiment of the specification provides a hot water supply system, a water softening device and a control method thereof, wherein the water outlet end of the water softening device can be communicated with the water inlet end of the hot water supply device, the water softening device further comprises a branch pipeline connected with a soft water treatment pipeline in parallel, and when the hot water supply device is in a circulating preheating state, the branch pipeline is in an open state and the soft water treatment pipeline is in a closed state. The embodiment of the specification can reduce the consumption speed of consumables of the water softening equipment.

Description

Hot water supply system, water softening equipment and control method thereof

Technical Field

The specification relates to the technical field of hot water supply systems, in particular to a hot water supply system, a water softening device and a control method of the water softening device.

Background

the inlet water of a hot water supply device (e.g., a water heater) is usually tap water. In some areas, the tap water is hard, and may contain more soluble calcium and magnesium ions, calcium and magnesium compounds, which not only affects the health of users in bathing, but also easily causes scaling and blockage of the pipeline of the hot water supply equipment, and reduces the heating efficiency and service life of the heating component.

for this reason, solutions have been developed for softening the intake water of a hot water supply apparatus using a water softening apparatus. However, the inventors of the present application found that: under the matching use mode of the water softening equipment and the hot water supply equipment, the problem of high consumable consumption of the water softening equipment is easy to occur.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a hot water supply system, a water softening plant and a control method thereof, so as to reduce the consumption rate of consumables of the water softening plant.

In order to achieve the above object, in one aspect, the embodiments of the present specification provide a water softening apparatus, a water outlet end of which can be communicated with a water inlet end of a hot water supply apparatus, the water softening apparatus further includes a branch pipeline connected in parallel with a soft water processing pipeline of the water softening apparatus, when the hot water supply apparatus is in a circulation preheating state, the branch pipeline is in an open state, and the soft water processing pipeline is in a closed state.

on the other hand, the embodiment of the present specification further provides a hot water supply system, which includes a hot water supply device and the above water softening device.

On the other hand, the embodiment of the present specification further provides a control method, which is applied to a water softening device, wherein an outlet end of the water softening device can be communicated with an inlet end of a hot water supply device, the water softening device further includes a branch pipeline connected in parallel with a soft water treatment pipeline thereof, and the control method includes:

Determining whether the hot water supply apparatus is in a circulation preheating state;

and when the hot water supply equipment is in a circulating preheating state, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state.

As can be seen from the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present specification, the water softening plant may include a branch line connected in parallel with the soft water treatment line thereof. So, under the circulation preheats the state, when the branch road pipeline is in the open mode and the soft water treatment pipeline is in the closed condition, the circulating water can get into hot water supply equipment via the branch road pipeline, and no longer flows through the soft water treatment pipeline to realized the bypass to the soft water treatment pipeline, therefore avoided the soft water equipment also to carry out the water softening under the circulation preheats the state, thereby reduced the consumptive material consumption speed of soft water equipment.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present specification or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below, it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments described in the present specification, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without any creative effort. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hot water supply system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a cyclic preheat state in some embodiments herein;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a water usage status of a user in some embodiments of the present description;

FIG. 4a is a schematic structural diagram of a hot water supply system according to further embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4b is a schematic diagram of a hot water supply system according to further embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a control apparatus of a water softening plant in some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a method of controlling a process in some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of updating the reference water temperature in the control method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 8 is a schematic flow chart of the over-temperature protection in the control method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In order to make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solutions in the present specification, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present specification will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present specification, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present specification, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art based on the embodiments in the present specification without any inventive step should fall within the scope of protection of the present specification. For example, in the following description, forming the second component over the first component may include embodiments in which the first and second components are formed in direct contact, embodiments in which the first and second components are formed in non-direct contact (i.e., additional components may be included between the first and second components), and so on.

also, for ease of description, some embodiments of the present description may use spatially relative terms such as "above …," "below …," "top," "below," etc., to describe the relationship of one element or component to another (or other) element or component as illustrated in the various figures of the embodiments. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements or components described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or components would then be oriented "above" or "over" the other elements or components.

The hot water supply system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a water softening apparatus and a hot water supply apparatus. The hot water supply device can have a circulation preheating function (namely a zero cold water circulation preheating function), so that a user can enjoy hot water when opening a hot water valve communicated with the hot water supply device without waiting for cold water to be exhausted.

in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the hot water supply device may be, for example, a gas water heater, a gas wall-hanging stove, an electric water heater, or an air energy water heater; the water softening plant may be, for example, a salt-adding water softening plant or a salt-free water softening plant, etc. In some exemplary embodiments, the salt-adding water softening apparatus may remove calcium and magnesium ions from water using ion exchange technology, thereby reducing water hardness. In water softening treatment technologies based on ion exchange technology, salts (e.g. sodium chloride) are generally used as regenerants, and therefore salt addition is required. In other exemplary embodiments, the salt-free water softening apparatus may pack calcium and magnesium ions in water into crystals suspended in water using an ion crystallization technique, so that the crystals are not easily scaled in water, and may filter the crystals through a filtering device (e.g., a filtering membrane, etc.), so that the hardness of water may be reduced, and thus, the addition of salt is not required.

in the hot water supply system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the water softening apparatus may soften input raw water (e.g., tap water) to reduce hardness thereof, so as to output soft water (i.e., softened water meeting a certain hardness standard). Wherein, the water outlet end of water softening installation can be linked together with the end of intaking of heat supply water installation, so that the soft water that water softening installation made can supply heat supply water installation to can use more healthy hot water, this kind of soft water can also slow down or avoid the scale deposit and the jam of the pipeline of heat supply water installation in addition, thereby can also improve heat supply water installation's heating efficiency and life. The water inlet end of the water softening device can also be communicated with the water outlet end of the hot water supply device so as to form a circulating preheating pipeline.

The inventor of the present application has found that when the water softening treatment pipeline of the water softening apparatus is always communicated with the water inlet of the hot water supply apparatus, the water softening treatment is performed by the water softening apparatus regardless of whether the hot water supply apparatus is in a user water use state or a circulation preheating state. Thus, the consumption of consumables in the water softening equipment is obviously accelerated, so that the problem of relatively fast consumable consumption of the water softening equipment is easy to occur. In fact, in the circulation preheating state, since the user does not use water, the water softening treatment of the water softening equipment causes resource waste at this time. The consumable material is a material consumed by the soft water treatment pipeline in the process of executing the water softening treatment. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, taking a salt-adding water softening plant as an example, the consumable may be salt as a regenerant; in other exemplary embodiments, taking a salt-free water plant as an example, the consumable may be a filter element or a membrane element or the like in the salt-free water plant.

In view of the above, in order to reduce the consumption rate of consumables of the water softening apparatus, in the embodiment of the present specification, the water softening apparatus may further include a branch line connected in parallel with the water softening treatment line thereof. So, under the circulation preheats the state, when the branch road pipeline is in the open mode and the soft water treatment pipeline is in the closed condition, the circulating water can get into hot water supply equipment via the branch road pipeline, and no longer flows through the soft water treatment pipeline to realized the bypass to the soft water treatment pipeline, therefore avoided the soft water equipment also to carry out the water softening under the circulation preheats the state, thereby reduced the consumptive material consumption speed of soft water equipment.

Referring to fig. 1, in some embodiments herein, a first controllable valve (e.g., as shown at V1 in fig. 1) may be provided on the soft water treatment line, and a second controllable valve (e.g., as shown at V2 in fig. 1) may be provided on the branch line (e.g., as shown in phantom in fig. 1). In this way, in the circulation preheating state, when the first controllable valve is in the closed state and the second controllable valve is in the open state (for example, as shown in fig. 2), the circulating water can enter the hot water supply device through the branch pipeline without flowing through the soft water treatment pipeline, so that the soft water treatment pipeline is bypassed, and the water softening treatment of the soft water device in the circulation preheating state is avoided.

In other embodiments described herein, the junction of the soft water treatment line and the bypass line may be provided with a switching valve (e.g., as shown at V0 in fig. 4a and 4 b). Therefore, in the circulating preheating state, when the channel connected with the soft water treatment pipeline by the switching valve is in the closed state and the channel connected with the branch pipeline by the switching valve is in the open state, the circulating water can also enter the hot water supply device through the branch pipeline and does not flow through the soft water treatment pipeline any more, so that the bypass of the soft water treatment pipeline is realized, and the water softening treatment of the soft water device in the circulating preheating state is also avoided.

in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the junction may be a water inlet branch of the soft water treatment pipeline and the branch pipeline (for example, as shown in fig. 4 a), or a water outlet junction of the soft water treatment pipeline and the branch pipeline (for example, as shown in fig. 4 b). In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the switching valve may have a plurality of operation positions and a plurality of passages, so that the soft water treatment line and the branch line may be controlled to open and close by one valve. In an exemplary embodiment, the switching valve may be, for example, a multi-position, three-way valve (e.g., a four-position, three-way valve), or the like.

Based on the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can understand that the opening and closing of the soft water treatment pipeline and the branch pipeline can be controlled by the valve or valves. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, other implementations may also be implemented as needed, and the present disclosure does not limit this.

in the above-described embodiments, the soft water treatment line of the water softening apparatus means a portion mainly for performing water softening treatment. For example, in the case of a salt and water softening plant, the soft water treatment line may include a resin tank or the like.

for convenience of description, the control principle of the soft water treatment pipeline and the branch pipeline will be described below by taking the example of the first controllable valve on the soft water treatment pipeline and the second controllable valve on the branch pipeline. In other embodiments of the present specification, for example, in an embodiment where a switching valve is provided at the junction of the soft water treatment line and the branch line, reference may be made to the explanation.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, valve V3 may be a pressure regulating valve. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the pressure regulating valve may be a constant pressure valve, a safety valve, or the like. When the hot water supply device is in a standby state and the hot water supply device detects that the water temperature of a water inlet end of the hot water supply device is lower than a set starting temperature, a circulating preheating function can be executed. In the circulation preheating state, because the user does not use water, the hot water valve V4 and the cold water valve V5 are in the closed state, and under the pressurization effect of the circulation pump of the hot water supply device, the pressure regulating valve V3 can be switched from the closed state to the open state in the normal state, so that the hot water output by the hot water supply device can flow back to the hot water supply device through the circulation preheating pipeline (for example, as shown by a black thick solid line in fig. 2), and the circulation preheating is realized until the preset preheating upper limit temperature is reached, and the circulation preheating is stopped.

in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, in the user water use state (i.e., the hot water valve V4 is in an open state, or both the hot water valve V4 and the cold water valve V5 are in an open state), the first controllable valve may be in an open state and the second controllable valve may be in a closed state. In this way, the hot water used by the user can be (or include) soft water. In the water using state of the user, under the pressure relief effect of the water using valves (such as the hot water valve V4 and the cold water valve V5), the water pressure in the pressure regulating valve V3 is not enough to switch from the closed state to the open state under the normal state, so that the hot water output by the hot water supplying device cannot flow back to the hot water supplying device, thereby being beneficial to ensuring the water using of the user.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a control device may be disposed on the water softening apparatus. The control means may be arranged to control said first controllable valve to be in a closed state and said second controllable valve to be in an open state when the hot water supply apparatus is in a cyclic warm-up state. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the control device may be further configured to control the first controllable valve to be in an open state and the second controllable valve to be in a closed state when the hot water supply apparatus is in a user water use state, so as to ensure that soft water is available to a user.

it should be understood that the above embodiments wherein controlling the first controllable valve to be in the closed state refers to: when the first controllable valve is originally in an open state, the first controllable valve can be controlled to be closed, so that the first controllable valve is in a closed state; when the first controllable valve is originally in the closed state, the first controllable valve can be controlled to maintain the closed state. Also, the controlling the second controllable valve to be in the open state in the above embodiments means: when the second controllable valve is originally in a closed state, the second controllable valve can be controlled to be opened, so that the second controllable valve is in an open state; when the second controllable valve is originally in the open state, the second controllable valve may be controlled to maintain its open state. In other embodiments of the present description, reference may be made to the explanations.

in some embodiments of the present description, the control device may include a temperature acquisition unit and a controller. The temperature collection unit may be configured to collect a current water temperature of the water softening apparatus (for example, collect a current water temperature of a water inlet end or a water outlet end of the water softening apparatus). Accordingly, the controller may be configured to control the first controllable valve to be in a closed state and the second controllable valve to be in an open state when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold. In some embodiments, the first water temperature threshold may be determined according to a cyclical pre-heating range of the water supply device, for example the first water temperature threshold may be a value within the cyclical pre-heating range of the water supply device. In other embodiments, the first water temperature threshold may be close to the lower limit of the circulation preheating range of the water supply apparatus, so that the water softening apparatus may be prevented from performing water softening treatment when the circulation preheating state is started (or at an early stage after the circulation preheating state is started), thereby being beneficial to further reducing the consumption rate of consumables of the water softening apparatus.

in the circulation preheating state, since the water softening apparatus forms a part of the circulation preheating line, the water flowing through the water softening apparatus is heated by circulation to cause the temperature of the water to rise. In the water using state of the user, the water flowing through the water softening plant is normal temperature water as a part of the water using pipeline (for example, as shown by the black bold line in fig. 3), and thus the water temperature is relatively stable. Therefore, based on such a difference, it is possible to confirm whether the water supply apparatus is in the circulation preheating state or not by the water temperature collected by the temperature collecting unit (e.g., T in fig. 1) provided at the water inlet side of the water softening apparatus. In other embodiments, the temperature acquisition unit may also be disposed at any suitable position at the front end of the water inlet end of the hot water supply apparatus, which is not limited in this specification.

In some embodiments herein, the first controllable valve and the second controllable valve may be, for example, solenoid valves, electric valves, or the like. In particular, the first controllable valve and/or the second controllable valve may be integrated into the water softening plant or externally connected to the water softening plant, and may be selected according to the needs.

In some embodiments of the present description, the controller may include, but is not limited to, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a single chip microcomputer, a Micro Control Unit (MCU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), and the like.

Referring to fig. 5, in some exemplary embodiments, the temperature acquisition unit may include, for example, a temperature sensor and a temperature acquisition circuit. The temperature sensor can be used for sensing the current water temperature of the water softening equipment and outputting a corresponding water temperature signal, and the temperature acquisition circuit can acquire the water temperature signal and provide the water temperature signal to the controller. In other exemplary embodiments, the temperature acquisition circuit may also preprocess the acquired water temperature signal. The preprocessing may include, but is not limited to, signal amplification, signal isolation, signal compensation, and/or analog-to-digital conversion, for example.

Referring to fig. 5, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, in order to improve the accuracy of detecting the preheating state of the circulation, the control device may further include a flow rate collecting unit in consideration of the influence of the external temperature change on the water temperature. The flow collection unit may be used to collect the current flow of the water softening apparatus. Correspondingly, the controller may further control the first controllable valve to be in a closed state and the second controllable valve to be in an open state when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate reaches the flow rate threshold.

In the circulating preheating state, the circulating preheating pipeline has the following two characteristics: 1. the water in the circulating preheating pipeline flows circularly, and the water temperature in the circulating preheating pipeline is gradually increased by 2. In view of the fact that the water softening equipment forms a part of the circulating preheating pipeline, the flow collecting unit and the temperature collecting unit can be cooperatively detected, and whether the hot water supply equipment is in a circulating preheating state or not can be accurately confirmed.

In some exemplary embodiments, the flow collection unit may be disposed at an outlet end of the water softening device (for example, as shown by F in fig. 1), and in other embodiments, the flow collection unit may be disposed at any suitable position at a front end of an inlet end of the hot water supply device, which is not limited in this specification.

continuing to refer to fig. 5, in some exemplary embodiments, the flow acquisition unit may include, for example, a flow sensor and a flow acquisition circuit. The flow sensor can be used for sensing the current flow of the water softening equipment and outputting a corresponding flow signal, and the flow acquisition circuit can acquire the flow signal and provide the flow signal to the controller. In other exemplary embodiments, the flow acquisition circuit may also pre-process the acquired flow signal. The preprocessing may also include, but is not limited to, signal amplification, signal isolation, signal compensation, and/or analog-to-digital conversion, for example.

taking a salt-adding water softening plant as an example, the water softening treatment pipeline of the water softening plant can have regeneration, salt absorption, water supplement and other states besides a softening state (i.e. an operation state for performing water softening treatment). Therefore, in some embodiments of the present specification, when the current flow rate of the water softening plant reaches the flow rate threshold, it may be first confirmed whether the soft water treatment line is in the regeneration state. When the current flow of the water softening plant reaches the flow threshold and the soft water treatment pipeline is in the regeneration state, the first controllable valve and the second controllable valve can be controlled to be both in the open state. Therefore, the regeneration of the soft water treatment pipeline in a regeneration state and the water consumption of users can be ensured.

Of course, in other embodiments of the present specification, when the current flow rate of the water softening plant reaches the flow threshold and the soft water treatment pipeline is in the non-regeneration state, it may be further determined whether the current water temperature of the water softening plant reaches the first water temperature threshold, and if the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold, the first controllable valve may be controlled to be in the closed state and the second controllable valve may be controlled to be in the open state.

in other embodiments of the present disclosure, after the circulation preheating is started and before the water temperature is increased to the first water temperature threshold, it is difficult for the controller to confirm whether the hot water supply apparatus is currently in the circulation preheating state, so that it is difficult to perform the bypass control of the soft water treatment line during which the circulating water still flows through the soft water treatment line. In view of the characteristic that the water temperature in the circulating preheating pipeline gradually increases in the circulating preheating state, the normal temperature water temperature can be used as the reference water temperature, and an appropriate water temperature increment is set (of course, the sum of the reference water temperature and the water temperature increment is smaller than the first temperature threshold), so that when the current water temperature of the water softening device increases by a water temperature increment on the basis of the reference water temperature, the hot water supply device can be confirmed to be in the circulating preheating state.

therefore, the sum of the reference water temperature and the water temperature increment can be used as the second water temperature threshold, when the current flow of the water softening device reaches the flow threshold and the soft water treatment pipeline is in the non-regeneration state, and when the current water temperature of the water softening device reaches the second water temperature threshold, the hot water supply device can be considered to be in the circulating preheating state, so that the first controllable valve can be controlled to be in the closing state, and the second controllable valve can be controlled to be in the opening state. Thus, it is also possible to contribute to further reducing the consumption rate of consumables of the water softening apparatus.

For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the reference water temperature is 20 ℃, the water temperature increment is 3 ℃, the second water temperature threshold may be 23 ℃, and if the first water temperature threshold is 28 ℃, in a non-regeneration state of the soft water treatment pipeline of the water softening plant, when the current flow rate of the water softening plant reaches the flow rate threshold and the current water temperature of the water softening plant reaches 23 ℃, the hot water supply plant may be considered to be in a circulation preheating state, and the bypass control may be performed on the soft water treatment pipeline without waiting until the water temperature of the water inlet end of the water softening plant rises to 28 ℃. The water softening treatment pipeline is bypassed when the water temperature reaches 23 ℃, so that the consumable consumption of the water softening treatment pipeline of the water softening equipment during the period that the water temperature is increased from 23 ℃ to 28 ℃ is saved, and the consumable consumption speed of the water softening equipment can be further reduced.

In other embodiments of the present specification, when the current flow rate of the water softening apparatus reaches the flow rate threshold and the soft water treatment pipeline is in the non-regeneration state, the hot water supply apparatus may be considered to be in the standby or user water use state when the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus does not reach the second water temperature threshold. At this time, in order to ensure that soft water can be used by a user, the first controllable valve can be controlled to be in an open state, and the second controllable valve can be controlled to be in a closed state.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, whether the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus is lower than the reference water temperature may be detected when the set update timing arrives, the current water temperature may be used as the reference water temperature when the current water temperature is lower than the reference water temperature, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, a weighted sum of the current water temperature and the reference water temperature may be used as the reference water temperature when the current water temperature is higher than the reference water temperature, for example, in an exemplary embodiment, when the current water temperature is higher than the reference water temperature, the reference water temperature may be updated according to a formula T '₀ ═ aT ₁ + bT ₀, wherein T ₀ is the reference water temperature before the update, T' ₀ is the reference after the update, T ₁ is the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus, a is the weight coefficient of T ₁, b is the weight coefficient of T ₀, and a + 1 b is the weight coefficient of T3583.

in other embodiments of the present description, new raw water (such as tap water) is continuously supplied to the hot water supply system during the water user process; after a certain period of time, the temperature of the newly supplied raw water may be closer to its actual temperature. Therefore, the set update timing may be that the set water temperature update time is up and the hot water supply device is in a user water use state. In some exemplary embodiments, the set water temperature update time may be a fixed time interval, such as once every 2 hours, once every day, etc.); in other exemplary embodiments, the set water temperature update time may also be a designated time point, such as 9 am or 10 pm daily, etc.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, as described above, in the water use state of the user, the water temperature of the newly supplemented raw water may be closer to the real water temperature after a certain period of time. Therefore, the set update timing may be delayed by a set time period when the set water temperature update time is up and the hot water supply device is in a user water use state. Namely, when the set water temperature updating time is up and the hot water supply device is in a user water using state, the set time is delayed, and then whether the current water temperature of the water softening device is lower than the reference water temperature is detected to obtain a more real reference water temperature. The set time period can be set through experiments or experience in specific situations.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water softener may be maintained with status flags, with different status flags corresponding to different states. For example, 00 indicates that the soft water treatment line is in a standby state, 01 indicates that the soft water treatment line is in a softening operation state, and 02 indicates that the soft water treatment line is in a regeneration state. Therefore, whether the soft water treatment pipeline is in the non-regeneration state can be judged by reading the state flag bit.

Of course, in other embodiments, other ways of determining whether the soft water treatment pipeline is in the non-regeneration state may be used. For example, the water softening apparatus may be provided with a status indicator lamp, and the controller of the water softening apparatus may output different status indicating electrical signals in different states, so that the status indicator lamp may output different indicating states. For example, normally bright indicates that the soft water treatment line is in a standby state, a first frequency flicker indicates that the soft water treatment line is in a softening operation state, a second rate flicker indicates that the soft water treatment line is in a regeneration state, and so on. Therefore, it is also possible to determine whether the soft water treatment pipe is in a non-regeneration state by recognizing the state indicating electrical signal output from the controller of the water softening apparatus.

In some embodiments of the present specification, when the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus does not reach the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate of the water softening apparatus does not reach the flow rate threshold, the hot water supply apparatus may be considered to be in a standby or user water use state. At this time, in order to ensure that soft water can be used by a user, the first controllable valve can be controlled to be in an open state, and the second controllable valve can be controlled to be in a closed state.

in some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate of the water softening apparatus does not reach the flow rate threshold, it indicates that the hot water supply apparatus is in a standby state, and the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus is changed due to the influence of the external temperature. At this time, the first controllable valve and the second controllable valve can be controlled to be in an open state, so as to respond to the water consumption state or the circulating preheating state of the user in time.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in order to protect the water softening apparatus, an upper threshold of the water temperature of the water softening apparatus may be further set. Correspondingly, the controller can also monitor whether the current water temperature of the water softening equipment exceeds the water temperature upper limit threshold value in real time or at regular time. When current temperature surpassed during the temperature upper limit threshold value, can carry out high temperature alarm (if need), can also control first controllable valve is in the closed condition, and controls the second controllable valve is in the open mode to the soft water treatment pipeline of protection water softening equipment avoids high temperature water to hit, thereby can prevent that soft water treatment pipeline from producing the swelling because of high temperature.

When the water softening equipment is in the excessively low water temperature for a long time, the strength of the soft water treatment pipeline of the water softening equipment is reduced, so that the crushing probability of the soft water treatment pipeline is increased, and the service life of the water softening equipment is influenced. Therefore, in other embodiments of the present specification, a lower threshold of water temperature of the water softening plant may be further set in order to protect the water softening treatment line. Correspondingly, the controller can also monitor whether the current water temperature of the water softening equipment is lower than the lower water temperature threshold value in real time or at regular time. When the current water temperature is lower than the water temperature lower limit threshold, further confirming whether the duration time of the current water temperature lower than the water temperature lower limit threshold reaches a specified duration; when the duration that the current water temperature is lower than the water temperature lower limit threshold value reaches a specified length, low-temperature alarm can be performed (if needed), and the first controllable valve can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the second controllable valve can be controlled to be in an open state. The specified time length can be set through experiments or experience in specific cases.

it should be noted that, in the above-mentioned overtemperature protection control at high temperature and long-term low temperature, the purpose of controlling the second controllable valve to be in the open state is to ensure that the water used by the user is not affected, i.e. in the case that soft water cannot be used.

For convenience of description, the above devices are described as being divided into various units by function, and are described separately. Of course, the functions of the various elements may be implemented in the same one or more software and/or hardware implementations of the present description.

the present specification also provides some control methods applicable to the above water softening apparatus, corresponding to the control apparatus of the above water softening apparatus. In some embodiments of the present description, the control method may include the steps of:

And when the hot water supply equipment is in a circulating preheating state, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state. Therefore, the circulating water can enter the hot water supply device through the branch pipeline and does not flow through the soft water treatment pipeline any more, so that the bypass of the soft water treatment pipeline is realized, the water softening treatment of the soft water device is avoided in a circulating preheating state, and the consumption speed of consumables of the soft water device is reduced.

In some embodiments of the present description, the control method may further include:

acquiring the current water temperature of the water softening equipment;

And when the current water temperature reaches a first water temperature threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state.

Acquiring the current flow of the water softening equipment;

and when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold value and the current flow reaches the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate reaches the flow rate threshold in the non-regeneration state of the soft water treatment pipeline, the first controllable valve may be controlled to be in the closed state, and the second controllable valve may be controlled to be in the open state.

in some embodiments of the present description, the when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate reaches a flow rate threshold may include:

When the soft water treatment pipeline is in a non-regeneration state, when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow reaches a flow threshold.

When the soft water treatment pipeline is in a non-regeneration state, when the current water temperature reaches a second water temperature threshold and the current flow reaches the flow threshold, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state, and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state; wherein the second water temperature threshold is lower than the first water temperature threshold. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, when the current water temperature reaches the second water temperature threshold and the current flow rate reaches the flow rate threshold in the non-regeneration state of the soft water treatment pipeline, the first controllable valve may be controlled to be in the closed state and the second controllable valve may be controlled to be in the open state.

When the soft water treatment pipeline is in a non-regeneration state, when the current water temperature does not reach a second water temperature threshold value and the current flow reaches the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline to be in a closed state, and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in an open state; wherein the second water temperature threshold is lower than the first water temperature threshold. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, when the current water temperature does not reach the second water temperature threshold and the current flow rate reaches the flow rate threshold in the non-regeneration state of the soft water treatment pipeline, the first controllable valve may be controlled to be in the open state and the second controllable valve may be controlled to be in the closed state.

and under the condition that the soft water treatment pipeline is in a regeneration state, when the current flow reaches the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline and the soft water treatment pipeline to be in an open state. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, when the current flow rate reaches the flow rate threshold value in the regeneration state of the soft water treatment pipeline, the first controllable valve and the second controllable valve can be controlled to be in the open state.

And when the current water temperature does not reach the first water temperature threshold value and the current flow does not reach the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline to be in a closed state and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in an open state. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, when the current water temperature does not reach the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate does not reach the flow rate threshold, the first controllable valve may be controlled to be in the open state, and the second controllable valve may be controlled to be in the closed state.

And when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold value and the current flow rate does not reach the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline and the soft water processing pipeline to be in an open state. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate does not reach the flow rate threshold, both the first controllable valve and the second controllable valve may be controlled to be in the open state.

Confirming whether the current water temperature of the water softening equipment exceeds an upper water temperature threshold value;

And when the current water temperature exceeds the upper limit threshold value of the water temperature, performing overtemperature alarm, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state, and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state, for example, as shown in fig. 8.

Confirming whether the current water temperature of the water softening equipment is lower than a water temperature lower limit threshold value or not;

when the current water temperature is lower than the water temperature lower limit threshold, determining whether the duration time of the current water temperature lower than the water temperature lower limit threshold reaches a first duration;

And when the duration reaches the first duration, performing an over-temperature alarm, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state, and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state, for example, as shown in fig. 8.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second water temperature threshold is a sum of the reference water temperature and a set water temperature increment.

when the set updating time comes, determining whether the current water temperature of the water softening equipment is lower than the reference water temperature;

And when the current water temperature is lower than the reference water temperature, taking the current water temperature as the reference water temperature.

In some embodiments of the present description, the control method further comprises:

When the current water temperature is higher than the reference water temperature, a weighted sum of the current water temperature and the reference water temperature is used as the reference water temperature, for example, as shown in fig. 7.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the set update timing includes:

the set water temperature updating time is up and the hot water supply device is in a user water using state.

In some embodiments of the present specification, the confirming whether the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus is lower than the reference water temperature includes:

After delaying the second time period, it is determined whether the current water temperature of the water softening plant is lower than the reference water temperature, for example, as shown in fig. 7.

While the process flows described above include operations that occur in a particular order, it should be appreciated that the processes may include more or less operations that are performed sequentially or in parallel (e.g., using parallel processors or a multi-threaded environment).

the present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

these computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

in a typical configuration, a computing device includes one or more processors (CPUs), input/output interfaces, network interfaces, and memory.

The memory may include forms of volatile memory in a computer readable medium, Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or non-volatile memory, such as Read Only Memory (ROM) or flash memory (flash RAM). Memory is an example of a computer-readable medium.

Computer-readable media, including both non-transitory and non-transitory, removable and non-removable media, may implement information storage by any method or technology. The information may be computer readable instructions, data structures, modules of a program, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, phase change memory (PRAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), other types of Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Discs (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transmission medium that can be used to store information that can be accessed by a computing device. As defined herein, a computer readable medium does not include a transitory computer readable medium such as a modulated data signal and a carrier wave.

it should also be noted that the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising an … …" does not exclude the presence of other like elements in a process, method or apparatus that comprises the element.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present description may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the description may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the description may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

this description may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The specification may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.

The embodiments in the present specification are described in a progressive manner, and the same and similar parts among the embodiments are referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from the other embodiments. In particular, as for the method embodiment, since it is substantially similar to the system embodiment, the description is simple, and the relevant points can be referred to the partial description of the system embodiment.

The above description is only an example of the present specification, and is not intended to limit the present specification. Various modifications and alterations to this description will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present specification should be included in the scope of the claims of the present specification.

Claims

1. The utility model provides a water softening installation, its water outlet end can be linked together with the end of intaking of heat supply water equipment, its characterized in that, water softening installation still includes the branch road pipeline rather than the soft water treatment pipeline is parallelly connected when heat supply water equipment is in the circulation preheating state, the branch road pipeline is in the open mode just soft water treatment pipeline is in the closed condition.

2. the water softening apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water softening process line has a first controllable valve disposed thereon, and the branch line has a second controllable valve disposed thereon, the first controllable valve being in a closed state and the second controllable valve being in an open state when the hot water supply apparatus is in the circulation preheating state.

3. the water softening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a switching valve is provided at a junction of the soft water treatment line and the branch line, and when the hot water supply apparatus is in the circulation preheating state, a passage of the switching valve connected to the soft water treatment line is in a closed state, and a passage of the switching valve connected to the branch line is in an open state.

4. The water softening plant of claim 3, wherein the junction comprises a water inlet branch of the soft water treatment pipeline and the branch pipeline.

5. The water softening apparatus of claim 3, wherein the junction comprises a junction of the soft water treatment pipeline and the water outlet of the branch pipeline.

6. the water softening apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

The temperature acquisition unit is used for acquiring the current water temperature of the water softening equipment;

and the controller is used for controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state when the current water temperature reaches a first water temperature threshold value.

7. The water softening apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

The flow acquisition unit is used for acquiring the current flow of the water softening equipment;

the controller is further configured to control the branch pipeline to be in an open state and control the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow reaches the flow threshold.

8. The water softening apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hot water supply apparatus comprises a gas water heater, a gas wall-hanging stove, an electric water heater, or an air-powered water heater.

9. The water softening plant of claim 1, wherein the water softening plant comprises a salt-added water softening plant or a salt-free water softening plant.

10. the water softening apparatus of claim 7, wherein when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate reaches a flow rate threshold, comprising:

11. the water softening apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

When the soft water treatment pipeline is in a non-regeneration state, when the current water temperature reaches a second water temperature threshold and the current flow reaches the flow threshold, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state, and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state; wherein the second water temperature threshold is lower than the first water temperature threshold.

12. the water softening apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

When the soft water treatment pipeline is in a non-regeneration state, when the current water temperature does not reach a second water temperature threshold value and the current flow reaches the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline to be in a closed state, and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in an open state; wherein the second water temperature threshold is lower than the first water temperature threshold.

13. The water softening apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

and under the condition that the soft water treatment pipeline is in a regeneration state, when the current flow reaches the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline and the soft water treatment pipeline to be in an open state.

14. the water softening apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

And when the current water temperature does not reach the first water temperature threshold value and the current flow does not reach the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline to be in a closed state and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in an open state.

15. The water softening apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

And when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold value and the current flow rate does not reach the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline and the soft water processing pipeline to be in an open state.

16. the water softening apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

And when the current water temperature exceeds the upper limit threshold value of the water temperature, performing overtemperature alarm, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state, and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state.

17. The water softening apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

And when the duration reaches the first duration, carrying out overtemperature alarm, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state, and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state.

18. The water softening apparatus of claim 11 or 12, wherein the second water temperature threshold is a sum of a reference water temperature and a set water temperature increase.

19. the water softening apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to:

20. the water softening apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to:

And when the current water temperature is higher than the reference water temperature, taking the weighted sum of the current water temperature and the reference water temperature as the reference water temperature.

21. the water softening apparatus of claim 19, wherein the set update timing comprises:

22. the water softening apparatus of claim 19, wherein the confirming whether the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus is lower than the reference water temperature comprises:

And after delaying the second time, determining whether the current water temperature of the water softening equipment is lower than the reference water temperature.

23. A hot water supply system comprising a hot water supply apparatus and the water softening apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. a control method is applied to a water softening device, the water outlet end of the water softening device can be communicated with the water inlet end of a hot water supply device, the control method is characterized in that the water softening device further comprises a branch pipeline which is connected with a soft water treatment pipeline of the water softening device in parallel, and the control method comprises the following steps:

25. The control method according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising:

Acquiring the current water temperature of the water softening equipment;

26. the control method according to claim 25, characterized by further comprising:

Acquiring the current flow of the water softening equipment;

And when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold value and the current flow reaches the flow threshold value, controlling the branch pipeline to be in an open state and controlling the soft water treatment pipeline to be in a closed state.

27. The control method of claim 26, wherein when the current water temperature reaches the first water temperature threshold and the current flow rate reaches a flow rate threshold, comprising:

28. the control method according to claim 26, characterized by further comprising:

29. The control method according to claim 26, characterized by further comprising:

30. the control method according to claim 26, characterized by further comprising:

31. The control method according to claim 26, characterized by further comprising:

32. The control method according to claim 26, characterized by further comprising:

33. The control method according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising:

34. The control method according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising:

35. A control method as claimed in claim 28 or 29 wherein the second water temperature threshold is the sum of a reference water temperature and a set water temperature increment.

36. the control method according to claim 35, characterized by further comprising:

37. The control method according to claim 36, characterized by further comprising:

38. the control method according to claim 36, wherein the set update timing includes:

39. the control method of claim 36, wherein the confirming whether the current water temperature of the water softening apparatus is lower than the reference water temperature includes: