CN113959091A

CN113959091A - Gas water heater and sterilization method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN113959091A
Application number: CN202111253231.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘小平
Original assignee: Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai
Current assignee: Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai
Priority date: 2021-10-27
Filing date: 2021-10-27
Publication date: 2022-01-21

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas water heater and a sterilization method thereof, wherein the gas water heater comprises a heat exchanger, a heat exchange pipe, a burner and a by-pass pipe, wherein the burner is used for burning to provide high-temperature flue gas in the heat exchanger; the sterilization method comprises the following steps: the power element is started under the control of a sterilization instruction; starting the burner until the liquid in the heat exchange tube is heated to a preset sterilization temperature T0; when the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube reaches the preset sterilizing temperature T0, the temperature is maintained for the preset sterilizing time T0. After the instruction that needs disinfect is obtained, control power component starts to the combustor burning back, high temperature flue gas can be fast even with everywhere liquid heating to predetermineeing sterilization temperature T0 in the circulation circuit. Ensure that all parts of the heat exchange tube can be effectively sterilized, and improve the sterilization effect.

Description

Gas water heater and sterilization method thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of water heaters, in particular to a gas water heater and a sterilization method of the gas water heater.

Background

The gas water heater is widely applied, and mainly provides energy for liquid in a heat exchange pipe through high-temperature flue gas provided by combustion of a burner, so that the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange pipe is raised to a target temperature, and hot water is provided for users. The heat exchange tube is generally coiled outside the heat exchanger, and after the heat exchange tube is used for a long time, bacteria can be bred in the heat exchange tube, so that adverse effects are caused to the health of users. For this reason, sterilization is generally performed by providing an ultraviolet germicidal lamp in the heat exchange tube. But because the heat exchange tube bends, even set up ultraviolet germicidal lamp among them and also can't be better make everywhere all can obtain effective sterilization, have the not thorough condition of disinfecting enough.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a gas water heater and a sterilization method thereof aiming at the problem of incomplete sterilization in a heat exchange tube, so as to ensure that all parts of the heat exchange tube can be effectively sterilized and improve the sterilization effect.

A sterilization method for a gas water heater comprises a heat exchanger, a heat exchange pipe, a burner and a by-pass pipe, wherein the burner is used for providing high-temperature flue gas for the heat exchanger in a burning mode, the heat exchange pipe surrounds the heat exchanger, a power element is arranged on the heat exchange pipe, two ends of the by-pass pipe are communicated with the heat exchange pipe to form a circulation loop, and the power element is located on the circulation loop;

the sterilization method comprises the following steps:

the power element is started under the control of a sterilization command, so that the liquid in the circulation loop flows circularly;

starting the burner until the liquid in the heat exchange tube is heated to a preset sterilization temperature T0;

and when the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube reaches the preset sterilizing temperature T0, maintaining the temperature for a preset sterilizing time T0.

In one embodiment, the predetermined sterilization temperature T0 is 95 ℃ to 99 ℃.

In one embodiment, the preset sterilization time period t0 is 5 minutes to 6 minutes.

In one embodiment, the step of maintaining the liquid temperature in the heat exchange tube for a preset sterilizing time period T0 after the temperature reaches a preset sterilizing temperature T0 comprises the following steps:

and when the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube reaches the preset sterilization temperature T0, controlling the burner to adjust the small fire to enter a small fire state, and maintaining the state for a preset sterilization time T0.

In one embodiment, the heat exchange tube is provided with a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet, a water inlet tube is arranged at the cold water inlet, a water outlet tube is arranged at the hot water outlet, two ends of the bypass tube are respectively communicated with the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet, a first switch valve is arranged on the water outlet tube, and a second switch valve is arranged on the bypass tube;

the sterilization method further comprises the following steps:

and when a sterilization instruction is received, the first switch valve is controlled to be closed, and the second switch valve is controlled to be opened.

In one embodiment, after the liquid temperature in the heat exchange tube reaches the preset sterilizing temperature T0 and is maintained at the temperature for the preset sterilizing time T0, the method further comprises the following steps:

judging whether zero cold water operation needs to be implemented or not;

and if so, controlling the first switch valve to be opened and the second switch valve to be closed.

In one embodiment, the gas water heater further comprises a fan, and the fan is arranged at the air outlet of the heat exchanger;

when the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube reaches the preset sterilization temperature T0 and is maintained at the temperature for the preset sterilization time T0, the sterilization method further comprises the following steps:

and closing the burner, starting the fan, and continuously keeping the power element in the running state.

In one embodiment, after the steps of turning off the burner, starting the fan and keeping the power element in the running state, the method further comprises the following steps:

acquiring the water taking temperature T1 of a user and the real-time water temperature T2 in the heat exchange tube;

and if the real-time water temperature T2 is not more than the set water temperature T1 of water taken by the user, turning off the fan and the power element.

after the steps of obtaining the water taking temperature T1 of the user and the real-time water temperature T2 in the heat exchange tube, the method further comprises the following steps:

when the real-time water temperature T2 is not more than the set water temperature T1 taken by the user, the first switch valve is controlled to be opened, and the second switch valve is controlled to be closed.

A gas water heater comprising a memory storing a computer program and a processor implementing the steps of the method of any preceding claim when the computer program is executed.

According to the scheme, after the instruction needing sterilization is obtained, the power element is controlled to be started, so that liquid in the circulation loop flows circularly, and after the burner burns, high-temperature smoke can rapidly and uniformly heat the liquid at each position in the circulation loop to the preset sterilization temperature T0. After the liquid is heated to the preset sterilization temperature T0, the liquid is maintained at the temperature for a preset sterilization time period T0, so that the heat exchange pipe is sterilized. And can ensure that all parts of the heat exchange tube can be effectively sterilized, thereby improving the sterilization effect.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the invention and not to limit the invention.

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a gas water heater according to the present embodiment;

fig. 2 to 6 are flow charts of the gas water heater in different embodiments.

Description of reference numerals:

10. a gas water heater; 11. a heat exchanger; 12. a heat exchange pipe; 121. a power element; 122. a water inlet pipe; 123. a water outlet pipe; 1231. a first on-off valve; 13. a burner; 14. a bypass pipe; 141. a second on-off valve; 15. a fan; 16. and a controller.

Detailed Description

In order to make the aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, a gas water heater 10 is provided, the gas water heater 10 including a heat exchanger 11, a heat exchange tube 12, a burner 13, and a bypass tube 14. The combustor 13 is used for combusting fuel gas to provide high-temperature flue gas for the heat exchanger 11, and the heat exchange pipe 12 surrounds the heat exchanger 11. The liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 absorbs the heat of the high-temperature flue gas and then the temperature rises.

The heat exchange tube 12 is provided with a power element 121, two ends of the bypass tube 14 are communicated with the heat exchange tube 12 to form a circulation loop, and the power element 121 is located on the circulation loop. The power element 121 is activated to circulate the fluid in the circulation loop.

Specifically, the power element 121 may be a water pump.

Further, as shown in fig. 1, in one embodiment, the heat exchange pipe 12 has a cold water inlet provided with a water inlet pipe 122 and a hot water outlet provided with a water outlet pipe 123. Both ends of the bypass pipe 14 are respectively communicated with the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet. A first switch valve 1231 is arranged on the water outlet pipe 123, and a second switch valve 141 is arranged on the bypass pipe 14.

In normal water use, the first switching valve 1231 is opened, the second switching valve 141 is closed, and the heated hot water in the heat exchange pipe 12 flows out from the water outlet pipe 123 for use by a user.

When entering the sterilization mode, the first switching valve 1231 is closed, and the second switching valve 141 is opened, so that the bypass pipe 14 is conducted to form a circulation loop with the heat exchange pipe 12. High-temperature hot water circulates in the circulation loop, and the sterilization purpose can be achieved.

Further, as shown in fig. 1, in an embodiment, the gas water heater 10 further includes a fan 15, and the fan 15 is disposed at an air outlet of the heat exchanger 11. After the fan 15 is started, the air in the heat exchanger 11 can circulate.

When the burner 13 is started, the fan 15 is started to discharge the flue gas subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger 11 out of the gas water heater 10. When the burner 13 is not activated, the fan 15 is activated to increase the air flow rate in the heat exchanger 11, so that the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 is lowered.

As shown in fig. 2, in one embodiment, a method of sterilizing a gas water heater 10 is provided, the method comprising the steps of:

under the control of a sterilization command, the power element 121 is started, so that the liquid in the circulation loop flows circularly;

starting the burner 13 until the liquid in the heat exchange pipe 12 is heated to a preset sterilization temperature T0;

when the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 reaches the preset sterilizing temperature T0, the temperature is maintained for a preset sterilizing time T0.

After an instruction of sterilization is obtained, the power element 121 is controlled to be started, so that the liquid in the circulation loop flows circularly, and when the combustor 13 burns, the high-temperature smoke can rapidly and uniformly heat the liquid at all places in the circulation loop to the preset sterilization temperature T0. After the liquid is heated to the preset sterilizing temperature T0, the liquid is maintained at the temperature for a preset sterilizing time period T0, so that the heat exchange pipe 12 is sterilized. And after the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 reaches the preset sterilization temperature T0, the power element 121 is kept in the operating state for the maintained preset sterilization duration T0, so as to ensure that the temperatures of all parts in the heat exchange tube 12 are kept at high temperatures, thereby achieving the purpose of sterilization. And further, the heat exchange tube 12 can be ensured to be effectively sterilized at all places, and the sterilization effect is improved.

Specifically, in one embodiment, the predetermined sterilization temperature T0 is 95 ℃ to 99 ℃.

More specifically, in one embodiment, the preset sterilization time period t0 is 5 minutes to 6 minutes.

For example, in one embodiment, the preset sterilization temperature T0 is 95 ℃ and the preset sterilization duration T0 is 5 minutes. After the burner 13 is started, high-temperature flue gas continuously enters the heat exchanger 11, the temperature of liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 surrounding the heat exchanger 11 is increased until the temperature of the liquid is increased to 95 ℃, and the temperature is kept at 95 ℃ for 5 minutes, so that the sterilization process is completed.

Further specifically, as shown in fig. 3, in one embodiment, the step of maintaining the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 at the preset sterilizing temperature T0 for the preset sterilizing time period T0 comprises the following steps:

when the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 reaches the preset sterilization temperature T0, the burner 13 is controlled to turn down the fire to enter a low-fire state, and the state is maintained for a preset sterilization duration T0.

In other words, at the beginning of the sterilization mode, the burner 13 is heated with a large amount of heat, so that the temperature in the heat exchanging pipe 12 can be rapidly heated to the preset sterilization temperature T0. When the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 reaches the preset sterilization temperature T0, the burner 13 is turned to a low-temperature state, so that the temperature in the heat exchange tube 12 can be maintained at the preset sterilization temperature T0 until the temperature maintenance duration reaches the preset sterilization duration T0.

Further, as described above, during normal water use, the hot water in the heat exchange pipe 12 needs to be discharged from the water outlet pipe 123 for use by a user. Therefore, in the normal water use, the first switching valve 1231 is opened and the second switching valve 141 is closed.

When entering the sterilization mode, it is necessary to ensure that high-temperature water can flow through the circulation circuit, and therefore, as shown in fig. 4, in one embodiment, the sterilization method further includes the steps of:

when a sterilization instruction is received, the first switching valve 1231 is controlled to be closed, and the second switching valve 141 is controlled to be opened.

At this time, the gas water heater 10 no longer provides hot water to the user, and the hot water in the heat exchange pipe 12 is continuously circulated in the circulation circuit.

Further, as shown in fig. 5, in one embodiment, after the liquid temperature in the heat exchange tube 12 reaches the preset sterilizing temperature T0 and is maintained at the temperature for the preset sterilizing time T0, the sterilizing method further comprises the following steps:

the burner 13 is turned off, the fan 15 is started, and the power element 121 continues to maintain the running state.

When the liquid temperature in the heat exchange tube 12 reaches the preset sterilizing temperature T0 and is maintained at the temperature for the preset sterilizing time period T0, the sterilization of the heat exchange tube 12 is substantially completed, and the burner 13 may be turned off. Meanwhile, in order to prevent the user from being scalded by the high-temperature liquid in the heat exchange tube 12, the fan 15 can be started, and the power element 121 continues to keep running, so that the air in the heat exchanger 11 flows at a high speed, and the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 is gradually reduced.

Specifically, after the fan 15 is started, based on the fact that the burner 13 is turned off, the temperature of the air flowing at a high speed in the heat exchanger 11 is relatively low, so that the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 can be cooled down quickly.

Further, as shown in fig. 5, in an embodiment, after the steps of turning off the burner 13, starting the fan 15, and continuing to maintain the operation state of the power element 121, the method further includes the following steps:

acquiring the water intake temperature T1 of a user and the real-time water temperature T2 in the heat exchange pipe 12;

if the real-time water temperature T2 is not greater than the user water intake set water temperature T1, the fan 15 and the power element 121 are turned off.

The blower 15 is started to keep the power element 121 running continuously, so that the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 is reduced, and scalding is avoided. When the real-time water temperature T2 in the heat exchange pipe 12 is reduced to the user water intake set temperature T1, the temperature reduction can be stopped, and the fan 15 and the power element 121 are turned off.

Further, at the same time, when the real-time water temperature T2 in the heat exchange pipe 12 drops to the user water intake set temperature T1, the first switch valve 1231 may be controlled to be opened, and the second switch valve 141 may be controlled to be closed, so as to enter a normal water usage mode.

For example, in one embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, after the step of obtaining the user water intake temperature T1 and the real-time water temperature T2 in the heat exchange pipe 12, the method further comprises the following steps:

when the real-time water temperature T2 is not more than the user water intake set water temperature T1, the first switch valve 1231 is controlled to be opened, and the second switch valve 141 is controlled to be closed.

Further, in another embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, after the liquid temperature in the heat exchange tube 12 reaches the preset sterilizing temperature T0 and is maintained at the temperature for the preset sterilizing time T0, the method further comprises the following steps:

judging whether zero cold water operation needs to be implemented or not;

if necessary, the first switching valve 1231 is controlled to be opened, and the second switching valve 141 is controlled to be closed.

The zero cold water operation means that warm water or boiled water is always required to be ensured in the household waterway of the user. If the user has such a requirement, immediately after the sterilization, the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange tube 12 does not need to be reduced, but the first switch valve 1231 is directly opened and the second switch valve 141 is closed, so that the high-temperature hot water used in the sterilization process can flow into the household waterway of the user, and further, the energy is saved.

Further, in a further embodiment, a gas water heater 10 is provided, comprising a memory storing a computer program and a processor implementing the steps of the method of any of the above when the processor executes the computer program. Therefore, the gas water heater 10 can sterilize, high-temperature hot water can flow through all parts in the heat exchange pipe 12, and the sterilization effect is good.

Further, in one embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the gas water heater 10 includes a controller 16, the controller 16 includes the memory and the processor, and the controller 16 is electrically connected to the first switching valve 1231, the second switching valve 141 and the power element 121. Such that the processor, when executing the computer program, operates the first switching valve 1231, the second switching valve 141 and the power element 121 according to the steps of the method.

Specifically, in one embodiment, the first switching valve 1231 and/or the second switching valve 141 may be solenoid valves. The controller 16 is electrically connected to the solenoid valve.

Further, in one embodiment, a temperature detector is disposed in the gas water heater 10 for detecting the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange pipe 12. The temperature detection part is electrically connected with the controller 16, so that the controller 16 controls the first switch valve 1231, the second switch valve 141 and the power element 121 to start and stop according to the data fed back by the temperature detection part according to the above steps.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "central," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," and the like are used in the orientations and positional relationships indicated in the drawings for convenience in describing the invention and to simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the referenced device or element must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and are not to be considered limiting of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means at least two, e.g., two, three, etc., unless specifically limited otherwise.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally formed; can be mechanically or electrically connected; they may be directly connected or indirectly connected through intervening media, or they may be connected internally or in any other suitable relationship, unless expressly stated otherwise. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may be directly contacting the first and second features or indirectly contacting the first and second features through an intermediate. Also, a first feature "on," "over," and "above" a second feature may be directly or diagonally above the second feature, or may simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature may be directly under or obliquely under the first feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "secured to" or "disposed on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and the like as used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not denote a unique embodiment.

The technical features of the embodiments described above may be arbitrarily combined, and for the sake of brevity, all possible combinations of the technical features in the embodiments described above are not described, but should be considered as being within the scope of the present specification as long as there is no contradiction between the combinations of the technical features.

The above-mentioned embodiments only express several embodiments of the present invention, and the description thereof is more specific and detailed, but not construed as limiting the scope of the invention. It should be noted that, for a person skilled in the art, several variations and modifications can be made without departing from the inventive concept, which falls within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present patent shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. The sterilization method of the gas water heater is characterized in that the gas water heater comprises a heat exchanger, a heat exchange pipe, a burner and a bypass pipe, wherein the burner is used for burning to provide high-temperature flue gas in the heat exchanger, the heat exchange pipe surrounds the heat exchanger, a power element is arranged on the heat exchange pipe, two ends of the bypass pipe are communicated with the heat exchange pipe to form a circulation loop, and the power element is positioned on the circulation loop;

the sterilization method comprises the following steps:

2. The sterilization method for the gas water heater according to claim 1, wherein the preset sterilization temperature T0 is 95-99 ℃.

3. The sterilization method for the gas water heater according to claim 1, wherein the preset sterilization time t0 is 5-6 minutes.

4. The sterilization method for a gas water heater according to claim 1, wherein the step of maintaining the temperature of the liquid in the heat exchange pipe for a preset sterilization time T0 after the temperature reaches a preset sterilization temperature T0 comprises the steps of:

5. The sterilization method for the gas water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heat exchange tube is provided with a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet, a water inlet tube is arranged at the cold water inlet, a water outlet tube is arranged at the hot water outlet, two ends of the bypass tube are respectively communicated with the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet, a first switch valve is arranged on the water outlet tube, and a second switch valve is arranged on the bypass tube;

the sterilization method further comprises the following steps:

6. The sterilization method for the gas water heater according to claim 5, wherein after the liquid temperature in the heat exchange pipe reaches the preset sterilization temperature T0 and is maintained at the temperature for the preset sterilization time T0, the method further comprises the following steps:

judging whether zero cold water operation needs to be implemented or not;

7. The method for sterilizing a gas water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gas water heater further comprises a fan, and the fan is arranged at the air outlet of the heat exchanger;

8. The method for sterilizing a gas water heater according to claim 7, wherein after the steps of turning off the burner, starting the fan and keeping the power element in the running state, the method further comprises the following steps:

9. The sterilization method for the gas water heater according to claim 8, wherein the heat exchange tube is provided with a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet, a water inlet tube is arranged at the cold water inlet, a water outlet tube is arranged at the hot water outlet, two ends of the bypass tube are respectively communicated with the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet, a first switch valve is arranged on the water outlet tube, and a second switch valve is arranged on the bypass tube;

10. A gas water heater comprising a memory storing a computer program and a processor implementing the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 9 when the processor executes the computer program.