EP4015977A1 - System and method for unclogging the water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (200) for at least partially eliminating an at least partial blockage in the first volume (151) of a water heater (100), comprising a first line (110), a heat exchanger (150), comprising a first volume (151), hydraulically connected to said first conduit (110), and a pump (140) for pumping the water in said first volume (151). Accordingly, the invention is characterized in that it comprises a control unit (210) for controlling said pump (140), and said control unit (210) is configured to activate the pump (140) in the event of an at least partial occlusion in the first volume (151) controls so that the water in the first volume (151) flows turbulently.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a system and a method for at least partially clearing an at least partial blockage in the first volume of a water heater, comprising a first line, a heat exchanger comprising a first volume hydraulically connected to said first line, and a pump for pumping of the water in said first volume.

STATE OF THE ART

Water heaters, in particular combination water heaters, are connected to a central heating circuit and to a domestic water pipe. They ensure that the liquid in the central heating circuit and the water in the house water pipe are heated. The water in the central heating circuit is fed into the water heater, heated by a heating cell and returned to the central heating circuit. Heating components such as radiators in the central heating circuit ensure that the rooms are heated.

The water in the house water pipe is heated in that a heat transfer is carried out between the water from the central heating circuit after it has been heated and the water from the house water pipe using a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger comprises a first volume through which the water from the central heating circuit flows and a second volume through which the water from the domestic water line flows. The first volume and the second volume exchange heat via a heat transfer medium. In this case, heat is transferred from the water heated by a heating cell in the first volume of the central heating circuit to the water in the second volume of the domestic water pipe.

If there is a blockage on the central heating side of the heat exchanger, the water in the domestic water pipe will not be heated sufficiently and the comfort of the users will be negatively affected. A blockage can also damage the heat exchanger in the subsequent steps and ensure a flow of liquid from the central heating circuit into the domestic water pipe.

In the prior art, the blockage can be detected in the first volume of the heat exchanger. In the Turkish patent application 2020/06174 become a system and discloses a method for detecting an occlusion in the first volume.

In the prior art, replacement of spare parts is guaranteed, for example by the technical service, after the clogging has been detected. User comfort is compromised as they continue to use the clogged heat exchanger until the problems are resolved.

Ultimately, all the problems mentioned above lead to the need for innovation in the relevant technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and a method for eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages and for achieving new advantages in the relevant technical field.

An object of the invention is to provide a system and a method allowing to unblock the water heater heat exchanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and a method that allow to reduce the time that the user has to use the clogged water heater.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system and a method which enable the clogging in the heat exchanger of the water heater to be detected earlier than those of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and a method that allow to unblock the heat exchanger without requiring additional devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system and a method that make it possible to at least partially extend the life of the components of the water heaters.

In order to fulfill all of the objects mentioned above and resulting from the following detailed description, the present invention relates to a system for at least partially clearing an at least partial blockage in the first volume of a water heater, comprising a first line, a heat exchanger comprising a first volume that hydraulically connected to said first conduit, and a pump for pumping the water in said first volume. Accordingly, the novelty is that the invention comprises a control unit for controlling said pump and said control unit is configured to control the pump in the event of an at least partial blockage in the first volume so that the water in the first volume flows turbulently. Thus, by at least partially clearing the blockage in the first volume, the user's inconvenience in using the blocked heat exchanger is reduced and the parts of the device are prevented from being damaged by the blockage. The clog is also cleared without the use of additional components or the need to remove or add parts.

The feature of a possible embodiment of the invention is that the control unit controls the pump in such a way that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of at least one pump blade of the pump assume values which periodically increase during the first part of a first period between a maximum value and a minimum value and decrease and the revolutions per minute of said impeller is at a first value during the second part of said first period to ensure that the water in the first volume flows turbulently.

The feature of a further possible embodiment of the invention is that said first value is chosen at a sufficiently equal distance from said maximum value and from said minimum value.

The feature of a possible embodiment of the invention is that the control unit is configured in such a way that it controls the pump in such a way that the revolutions per minute of the pump blade in said first part assume values which vary sinusoidally.

The feature of another possible embodiment of the invention is that the control unit is configured to control the pump in such a way that the revolutions per minute of the pump impeller in said first part assume values which vary in such a way that the sine wave whose amplitude is stepped rises, mark. This ensures that the blockage can be cleared more quickly.

The feature of another possible embodiment of the invention is that the control unit is configured to determine whether the detected blockage belongs to at least a first category or at least a second category and the step "to ensure that the water in the first volume flows turbulently, the pump is controlled so that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of at least one pump blade of the pump assume values which periodically increase and decrease during the first part of a first period between a maximum value and a minimum value and the revolutions per minute of the said impeller assume a first value" during the second part of said first period" is repeated a predetermined number of times depending on which category has been determined. This ensures that the blockages are cleared by repeating the operations depending on the degree of blockage.

The feature of another possible embodiment of the invention is that it comprises a user interface for providing information to the user, which is controlled by the control unit.

The feature of another possible embodiment of the invention is that the mentioned user interface is provided on the water heater.

The feature of another possible embodiment of the invention is that said user interface is provided on an electronic terminal and configured to communicate wirelessly with the control unit.

The invention also relates to a method for at least partially clearing an at least partial blockage in the first volume of a water heater comprising a first pipe, a heat exchanger comprising a first volume hydraulically connected to said first pipe and a pump for pumping the water in said first volume. Accordingly, the innovation consists in that the control unit is configured in such a way that it controls said pump in such a way that when the control unit controlling said pump detects an at least partial blockage in the first volume, the water in the first volume flows turbulently.

The feature of a further possible embodiment of the invention is that the pump is controlled in such a way that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of at least one pump blade of the pump assume values which periodically increase during the first part of a first period between a maximum value and a minimum value and decrease and the revolutions per minute of said impeller assumes a first value during the second part of said first period to ensure that the water in the first volume flows turbulently.

The feature of a further possible embodiment of the invention is that said first value is chosen at a sufficiently equal distance from said maximum value and from said minimum value.

The feature of a further possible embodiment of the invention is that the pump is controlled in such a way that the revolutions per minute of the pump blade in said first part assume values which vary sinusoidally.

The feature of another possible embodiment of the invention is that the pump is controlled in such a way that the revolutions per minute of the pump blade in said first part assume values which vary so as to characterize the sine wave whose amplitude gradually increases.

The feature of a further possible embodiment of the invention is that it is determined whether the detected blockage belongs to at least a first category or at least a second category, and the step "to ensure that the water in the first volume flows turbulently, the pump controlled so that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of at least one pump blade of the pump assume values which periodically increase and decrease between a maximum value and a minimum value during the first part of a first period and the revolutions per minute of said pump blade during the second part of the said first period have a first value" is repeated a predetermined number of times depending on which category has been determined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• In 1 a representative view of the system is shown.
• In 2 a schematic view of the system is shown.
• In 3 the values of the control unit controlling the impeller of the pump in the first period are shown according to time.
• In 4 shows the representative views of laminar and turbulent flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject of the invention is explained by means of examples which are only intended to provide a better understanding of the subject and are not intended to be limiting.

The invention relates to FIG 1 a system (200) for at least partially unclogging a first volume of a heat exchanger connected to a first line (110) of a water heater (100). The invention is also a method embodying this system (200) and a water heater (100), preferably a combination water heater, comprising this system (200).

The water heater (100) comprises a first line (110) which is hydraulically connected to a central heating circuit (310) and a second line (120) which is hydraulically connected to a domestic water line. The liquid circulating in the central heating circuit (310) enters the first line (110), exits again after being heated and is fed back into the central heating circuit (310). The tap water, coming from a line such as the municipal water supply, enters the second line (120) and, after being heated, is introduced into the domestic water line for consumers to use via components such as faucets and the like. The liquid in said first line (110) may be water or any other liquid used for heating purposes.

The water heater (100) contains a heating cell for heating the liquid in the first line (110). The heating cell mentioned gives off energy consumption such as electricity, gas and the like. heat off. The heating cell (130) can be controlled by thermostat-like elements or a control unit (210). In other words, the cycles in which the heater cell (130) is activated and deactivated can be controlled by these components.

The first line (110) may also include a pump (140) for pumping the liquid into the first line (110). The pump (140) may also include an impeller. The control unit (210) is configured to also control the pump (140). This Control can be done by changing the number of revolutions per minute of the pump impeller or the torque of the pump impeller.

The water heater (100) includes a heat exchanger to ensure heat transfer between the heated liquid in the first line (110) and the water in the second line (120) without mixing with each other. The heat exchanger (150) may include a first volume receiving the liquid in the first line (110), a second volume receiving the liquid in the second line (120), and heat transfer means for transferring heat between the first volume (151) and the second volume (152). The heat exchanger may be of a type known in the art as a plate type. The innovation in the system (200) according to the invention consists in ensuring that the at least partial blockage in the first volume of the heat exchanger is at least partially cleared.

The control unit (210) can comprise a processor unit (211) and a memory unit (212) associated with said processor unit (211). The memory unit (212) may comprise software comprising the functional modules consisting of the command lines carried out by the processor unit (211).

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the system (200) according to the invention comprises a flow measuring device (221) for measuring the volume flow of the liquid in the first line (110). The mentioned flow measuring device (221) can be a flow sensor.

The novelty of the invention is that the blockage is cleared by the control unit (210) after it has been detected in the first volume (151). Details regarding the detection of the blockage are explained below.

The water can flow in two ways in the pipes, as a laminar flow or as a turbulent flow. In 4 A representative view of laminar and turbulent flow is shown. With laminar flow, the liquid particles move linearly along the line. In turbulent flow, on the other hand, the liquid particles exert an increased cutting force on the sides of the pipes due to non-linear movements (spiral or similar). This in turn ensures that unwanted particles on the pipe surface causing clogging are dislodged from the pipe surface and the pipe surface is cleaned. the The novelty of the invention is that when the blockage is detected, it is ensured that the water flows turbulently and the blockage is at least partially cleared.

More specifically, when an occlusion is detected in the first volume (151), the control unit (210) is configured to operate the pump (140) such that a turbulent liquid flow is established in the first volume (151).

Operating the pump so that a turbulent flow of liquid occurs is made possible by the speed (revolutions per minute) of the impeller of the pump (140) periodically increasing and decreasing during the first part of a first period between a maximum value and a minimum value and the pump is operated at a sufficiently constant first value during a second part of said first period. In 3 the change in velocities at which the pump (140) is operated to cause the water in the first volume (151) to flow turbulently is shown over time.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the speed of the impeller of the pump (140) can assume wave-like values in the first part, which vary sinusoidally between a maximum value and a minimum value.

In another possible embodiment of the invention, the speed of the impeller of the pump (140) can assume wave-like values in the first part, the amplitude of which gradually increases between a maximum value and a minimum value and that vary sinusoidally. In 3 shows the change of values in this construction over time.

The constant first value mentioned here may be the speed at which the impeller of the pump (140) rotates when the water heater (100) is in normal operation. This speed can be referred to as the nominal speed.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the control unit (210) determines the category of the blockage. The processes from the first period are repeated according to the determined category. For example, a first category and a second category may differ in terms of characteristics such as reduction in the diameter of the duct due to clogging or spreading on the surface of the duct. For example, a constipation in the first category can 10% reduction in the diameter of the conduit or first volume (151), while a second category clog can cause a 40% clog. The degree of clogging affects the comfort of the user.

The system includes a sensor system (220) for detecting the blockage. Said sensor system (220) is assigned to the control unit (210). The control unit (210) can detect an occlusion in the first volume (151) according to the signals received from the sensor system (220) or receive signals directly from the sensor system (220) regarding an occlusion.

The system (200) includes a first temperature sensor (222) located on the first line (110) to measure the temperature of the liquid exiting the heater cell (130). The system (200) also includes a second temperature sensor (223) on the second line (120) for measuring the temperature of the liquid exiting the heat exchanger. The system (200) may include a consumption meter (224) for measuring the amount of energy type consumed by the heater cell. Said consumption measuring device (224) can be a measuring element for measuring the amount of gas or electricity consumed by the heater cell or a counter for counting the cycles in which the heater cell is activated and deactivated.

The control unit (210) receives the measurements of flow, temperature and consumed energy type from the flow meter (221), the first temperature sensor (222), the second temperature sensor (223) and the consumption meter (224).

The processor unit (211) stores the measurements of flow rate, temperature and quantity of the consumed type of energy associated with their reception times in a memory unit (212).

In the event of a clog in the first volume of the heat exchanger (150), the temperature of the water in the second volume (152) will rise to a lesser degree because a smaller amount of heated liquid transfers heat to the water in the second volume (152); in other words, the temperature will remain below the expected temperature range. In the event of a blockage in the first volume (151), the flow rate of the liquid in the first line (110) will decrease since the expected amount of liquid will not enter the cycle and this will increase the temperature of the liquid in the first line (110). In addition, the operating frequency of the heating cell is increased since the desired temperature cannot be reached in the domestic water pipe.

Accordingly, the processor unit (211) monitors the measurements stored in the memory unit (212). The processing unit (211) generates a signal about the blockage in the first volume (151) when an increasing trend in the temperature measurements received in a first time interval from the first temperature sensor (222) is detected when a decreasing trend in the mentioned first time interval from the second temperature sensor (223) received temperature measurements is detected when a decreasing trend is detected in the flow measurements received in the first time interval from the flow meter (221) and when an increasing trend is detected in the measurements of the energy type received from the consumption meter (224).

The processor unit (211) recognizes the increasing trend and the decreasing trend, for example, as follows: The processing unit (211) recognizes the increasing trend when it determines that the initial values and final values of a predetermined number of monitored measurements are in a first range of values, which are in sequence over the beginning and ending values of a normal range of values, and detects the decreasing trend when it finds that the beginning and ending values of a specified number of monitored measurements are within a first range of values which are sequentially below the beginning and ending values of a normal range of values. Alternatively, the increasing trend can be detected when it is determined that the majority of consecutive measurements are increasing according to time and that they are above certain thresholds; the decreasing trend can be recognized when it is found that the majority of the consecutive measurements are decreasing and that they are below certain thresholds. In a possible embodiment, the increasing or decreasing trend can be recognized by considering the maximum and/or minimum values observed in certain intervals.

The system (200) may also include a user interface (250) associated with the processor unit (211) to ensure that said signal is sent to the user. Said user interface (250) can be provided on the water heater (100). In one possible embodiment, the user interface (250) can be located in a room remote from the water heater (100) and can be wired or wireless for data exchange with the Provide processor unit (211). In one possible embodiment, the user interface (250) can be provided on an electronic terminal. The processor unit (211) can wirelessly exchange data with the electronic terminal. Said electronic terminal can be a server, a mobile device, a computer, etc. If the terminal is a server, the water heater engineering service (100) can identify the blockage in advance and procure spare parts so that early action planning can be undertaken.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims and should not be limited to what is explained in this detailed description for the purpose of giving examples. It is obvious that the person skilled in the technical field can create similar embodiments in the light of the above explanations.

THE REFERENCE NUMBERS INDICATED IN THE FIGURES

100

water heater

110

First line

120

second line

130

heating cell

140

pump

150

heat exchanger

151

First volume

152

second volume

153

heat transfer medium

200

system

210

control unit

211

processor unit

212

storage unit

220

sensor system

221

flow meter

222

First temperature sensor

223

Second temperature sensor

224

consumption measuring device

250

user interface

310

central heating circuit

320

domestic water pipe

Claims (15)

System (200) for at least partially clearing an at least partial blockage in the first volume (151) of a water heater (100), comprising a first line (110), a heat exchanger (151) comprising a first volume (151) connected to said hydraulically connected to the first conduit (110), and a pump (140) for pumping the water in said first volume (151), characterized in that it comprises a control unit (210) for controlling said pump (140) and said control unit (210) is configured to control the pump (140) in the event of at least a partial blockage in the first volume (151) so that the water in the first volume (151) flows turbulently. System (200) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (210) controls the pump (140) in such a way that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of at least one pump blade of the pump (140) assume values which during the first part of a periodically increase and decrease between a maximum value and a minimum value during the first period and the revolutions per minute of said impeller assumes a first value during the second part of said first period to ensure that the water in the first volume (151) flows turbulently. The system (200) of claim 2, characterized in that said first value is chosen sufficiently equidistant from said maximum value and said minimum value. System (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that the control unit (210) is configured to control the pump (140) so that the revolutions per minute of the pump blade in said first part assume values which vary sinusoidally. System (200) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the control unit (210) is configured to control the pump (140) so that the revolutions per minute of the pump blade in said first part assume values which vary such that they denote the sine wave whose amplitude gradually increases. The system (200) of claim 2, characterized in that the controller (210) is configured to determine whether the detected obstruction belongs to at least a first category or at least a second category, and the step "In order to ensure that the water in the first volume flows turbulently, the pump (140) is controlled in such a way that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of at least one pump blade of the pump (140) assume values which during the first part of a first period periodically increasing and decreasing between a maximum value and a minimum value and the revolutions per minute of said impeller assumes a first value during the second part of said first period, repeated a predetermined number of times depending on which category has been determined. The system (200) of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a user interface (250) controlled by the control unit (210) for providing information to the user. System (200) according to claim 7, characterized in that said user interface (250) is provided on the water heater (100). The system (200) of claim 7, characterized in that said user interface (250) is provided on an electronic terminal and configured to communicate wirelessly with the control unit (210). Method for at least partially clearing an at least partial blockage in the first volume (151) of a water heater (100) comprising a first line (110), a heat exchanger (150) comprising a first volume (151) connected to said first line ( 110) is hydraulically connected, and a pump (140) for pumping the water in said first volume (151), characterized in that the control unit is configured to control said pump (140) such that upon detection of at least one partial blockage in the first volume (151) by the control unit (210) controlling said pump (140), the water in the first volume (151) flows turbulently. Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the pump (140) is controlled in such a way that the revolutions per minute (rpm) of at least one pump blade of the pump (140) assume values which during the first part of a first period are between a maximum value and a periodically increasing and decreasing the minimum value and the revolutions per minute of said impeller assume a first value during the second part of said first period to ensure that the water in the first volume (151) flows turbulently. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that said first value is chosen sufficiently equidistant from said maximum value and said minimum value. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that the pump (140) is controlled in such a way that the revolutions per minute of the pump blade in said first part assume values which vary sinusoidally. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that the pump (140) is controlled in such a way that the revolutions per minute of the pump blade in said first part assume values which vary in such a way as to characterize the sine wave which increases in amplitude stepwise. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that it is determined whether the detected blockage belongs to at least a first category or at least a second category and the step "to ensure that the water in the first volume (151) flows turbulently, the Pump (140) controlled so that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of at least one pump blade of the pump (140) periodically increase and decrease during the first part of a first period between a maximum value and a minimum value and the revolutions per minute of said pump blade during the take on a first value during the second part of said first period" is repeated a predetermined number of times depending on which category has been determined.

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