TW201632811A - Automatic temperature control system of gas-burning water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic temperature control system of a gas-burning water heater. Different from the prior art techniques that realizes water temperature control by means of temperature transducer, the system provides a precise control of temperature rise based on detection of water flow rate and the way of rising temperature selected by users. The system comprises a water flow sensor for detecting water flow rate, a heat exchanger for heating and increasing temperature of a water flow, a gas ratio regulation valve for supplying fuel gas to the heat exchanger, a variable potentiometer for allowing users to select temperature rise, and a control unit for receiving the selected temperature rise and the water flow rate and, after calculation, controlling an opening degree of the gas ratio regulation valve. The control unit allows an amount of fuel gas supplied from the gas ratio regulation valve to the heat exchanger to heat the water flow to a selected temperature increase value specified by the variable potentiometer so as to eliminate the drawback of the conventional control method that may cause burning due to instantaneous change of water flow.

Description

Automatic temperature control system for gas water heaters

The invention relates to an automatic temperature control system applied to a gas water heater, which uses the method of detecting water flow and selecting a temperature rise by a user to accurately control the temperature rise of the water flow, which is different from the traditional technology by using the water inlet and outlet water temperature sensors. Control the water temperature.

In order to meet the requirements of constant temperature, the basic control system of the gas water heater comprises a control device, a heat exchanger, at least one gas valve, and two temperature sensors for detecting the water temperature of the inlet end and the outlet end respectively; The user can first operate the control device to set a temperature value. When the user turns on the faucet, the inlet water temperature sensor senses the inlet water temperature, and then the control device controls the gas valve opening degree, so that the heat exchanger burns the heating water flow until the user The water temperature at the outlet end reaches the set temperature value.

When the above-mentioned conventional system is operated, the inlet water temperature is different due to seasonal changes, for example, the winter inlet water temperature is low, and if the outlet water temperature sensed by the outlet water temperature sensor is lower than the preset temperature value, the control device will make the gas The valve increases the flow rate of the gas supplied to the heater to increase the fire power to bring the water flow to a preset temperature; conversely, for example, the summer inlet water temperature is relatively high, and if the water outlet sensing temperature signal is higher than the preset temperature value, the control device is The gas valve will reduce the flow of gas supplied to the heater, and the temperature of the water flow will be lowered to a preset temperature with a small fire force, so that the water outlet temperature of the water heater is maintained at a constant temperature as much as possible.

The above-mentioned conventional techniques have been in use for many years, but there have been occasions when there is a user's burn. The main reason is that the conventional technology controls the gas flow rate by using the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor at the water outlet to control the gas flow rate, that is, when the user feels that the water temperature is higher or lower than the preset temperature water temperature, the control is performed. The device will adjust the gas flow rate so that the too high or too low outlet water temperature lasts for a while. After that, the water temperature will gradually adjust to the preset value, and the effect of immediate adjustment cannot be achieved.

In addition, in the above process, if the water flow rate changes drastically due to the water pressure, especially if the water quantity suddenly decreases sharply, and the water temperature sensor senses that the temperature is too high, the heat exchanger has been continuously burned for a period of time with a large fire, so it is easy An accident in which a user has burned. Because of this, some countries have further regulated that the water temperature of the water heater cannot be higher than the set temperature by 10 degrees, or even must be accurately controlled within 5 degrees. In this case, the temperature sensor of the inlet and outlet ends is traditionally controlled. The technology is bound to fail to meet safety regulations.

In view of this, the inventors have accumulated years of research and practical experience in related fields, and have created an automatic temperature control system for gas water heaters, which needs to be equipped with water inlet and outlet temperature sensors in conventional gas water heaters. And the control device did not immediately adjust the lack of gas flow according to the amount of water.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic temperature control system for a gas water heater capable of accurately controlling water temperature without installing a temperature sensor, and the automatic temperature control system can control the gas flow rate according to the flow rate of the water flow, so that the gas flow rate will flow the water Heating to the selected temperature rise value selected by the user; when the water flow rate becomes smaller, the automatic temperature control system can reduce the gas flow rate and avoid the excessively high water temperature; when the water flow rate becomes large, the automatic temperature control system can make the gas flow rate Increase, maintain the water temperature, improve the conventional technology can not adjust the gas flow according to the amount of water, it is easy to cause the user's lack of burns.

In order to achieve the above object, the automatic temperature control system of the gas water heater of the present invention can control the gas flow rate according to the water flow rate, so that the gas flow rate heats the water flow to the selected temperature rise value selected by the user, and does not need to install a temperature sensor; The automatic temperature control system comprises: a water flu detector capable of detecting water flow, a heat exchanger capable of heating the water flow, a gas proportional control valve for supplying gas required for combustion of the heat exchanger, and one for use. A temperature potentiometer is selected, and a control unit capable of receiving signals from the variable potentiometer and the water flu detector, the control unit being capable of sensing the water flu sensor The measured water flow rate and the temperature rise of the variable potentiometer are selected, and the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve is accurately controlled after calculation, so that the gas amount of the gas proportional regulating valve supplied to the heat exchanger can heat the water flow to the variable electric quantity. The selected temperature rise value selected by the bit.

The implementation of each component is further described below. In implementation, the control unit includes a micro controller, a water flow detecting module that receives a water flow signal detected by a water flu detector, and a driving gas ratio. The valve body drive module of the regulating valve, an ignition module that starts to ignite the heat exchanger after receiving the water flow signal, a flame sensing module that successfully senses the ignition, and a selection temperature of the receiving variable potentiometer a temperature rise detection module for outputting a temperature rise signal; the micro controller receives a water flow signal output by the water flow detection module, and receives a temperature rise signal output by the set temperature rise detection module, and then passes through the valve body after calculation The drive module transmits the opening signal corresponding to the gas proportional control valve, so that the gas proportional control valve accurately supplies the gas to the heat exchanger for combustion.

According to the above system, the invention does not need to install the water inlet and outlet water temperature sensors, but according to the water flow signal and the temperature rise signal received by the micro controller of the control unit, the gas flow rate is accurately controlled, and the gas is allowed to be used. The flow heats the water flow to the selected temperature rise value selected by the variable potentiometer to control the water temperature; thus, in the water discharge process, when the micro controller receives the signal that the water flow detection module outputs a small water flow, the valve body is The driving module drives the gas proportional control valve to reduce the opening degree, instantly reduces the flow rate of the gas heated by the water flow, and maintains the outlet water temperature at the selected temperature rise value selected by the variable potentiometer, thereby avoiding the occurrence of water flow reduction and burning The air flow rate is constant, and the water temperature is too high.

Conversely, when the micro-controller receives the signal that the water flow detection module outputs a large water flow, the valve body drive module drives the gas proportional control valve to increase the opening degree, and instantly increases the gas flow rate for heating the water flow. The outlet water temperature is maintained at a selected temperature rise value selected by the variable potentiometer to avoid the disadvantage that the water flow rate increases and the gas flow rate does not change to lower the outlet water temperature.

In implementation, the control unit is electrically connected to the battery, and further includes a power boosting module capable of boosting the voltage of the battery for operation of the microcontroller, and a a low voltage detecting module for monitoring the voltage of the battery, the low voltage detecting module further comprising a low voltage LED display light activated when the battery voltage is lower than the setting, and reminding the user by means that the LED display light continues to emit light or is intermittently blinking The battery is low.

During implementation, the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve and the selected temperature rise value achieved by the gas flow rate can be pre-tested in the micro controller for calculation by the microcontroller; the calculation method is the heating value Q = W (water flow) × K (select temperature rise value).

In implementation, the variable potentiometer includes a knob for operation by the user, and the knob is marked with a complex array for the user to select the temperature rise value of the selected temperature rise value.

In implementation, the gas proportional control valve comprises a first differential pressure valve respectively disposed on the gas flow passage for controlling gas opening and closing, a first differential pressure valve opening and a female fire passage to ignite the heat exchanger female flame a micro solenoid valve, a second differential pressure valve disposed downstream of the first differential pressure valve for controlling the gas flow rate, and a movable coil proportional solenoid valve for controlling the opening of the second differential pressure valve; the valve body drive module The output opening signal is different current magnitude, and the dynamic coil proportional solenoid valve can react to the position according to different current magnitudes provided by the valve body driving module of the control unit, thereby controlling the opening of the second differential pressure valve; The downstream of the differential pressure valve is connected to the main fire passage to ignite the main fire port of the heat exchanger.

Compared with the prior art, the invention can accurately control the water temperature without adding the water inlet and outlet water temperature sensors, and can avoid the problem that the traditional control method is easy to cause burns due to the instantaneous change of the water flow. The calculation principle is generally applied to gas proportional control valves and various water heaters of different valve opening modes, and even the same gas proportional control valve is applicable to water heaters of different specifications, which can effectively reduce the inventory and production cost of the gas proportional control valve.

In the following, according to the technical means of the present invention, embodiments suitable for the present invention are listed, and the following description is in conjunction with the drawings:

1‧‧‧Water Detector

2‧‧‧ heat exchanger

3‧‧‧ gas proportional valve

4‧‧‧Variable potentiometer

5‧‧‧Control unit

6‧‧‧Battery

10‧‧‧Microcontroller

11‧‧‧Power boost module

12‧‧‧Low voltage detection module

121‧‧‧Low voltage LED display light

13‧‧‧Water flow detection module

14‧‧‧ valve body drive module

15‧‧‧Ignition Module

16‧‧‧Flame sensing module

17‧‧‧Set temperature rise detection module

20‧‧‧ gas flow channel

21‧‧‧First differential pressure valve

22‧‧‧Micro Solenoid Valve

23‧‧‧Second differential pressure valve

24‧‧‧ moving coil proportional solenoid valve

30‧‧‧Female fire channel

31‧‧‧Female Hukou

40‧‧‧Main fire passage

41‧‧‧Main crater

The first picture: the structure diagram of the system.

Second figure: Schematic diagram of the control unit system of the system.

Figure 3: Flow chart of the operation of the control unit of the system.

Figure 4: Schematic diagram of the effluent with a temperature rise of 50K.

Figure 5: Schematic diagram of the effluent of this system with the temperature rise value maintained at 50K and the water volume reduced.

Figure 6: Schematic diagram of the effluent of the system with the temperature rise value maintained at 50K and the water volume increased.

Figure 7: Schematic diagram of the effluent with a temperature rise of 5K.

As shown in the first and second figures, the present invention is an automatic temperature control system applied in a gas water heater, which can control the gas flow rate according to the flow rate of the water flow, so that the gas flow rate heats the water flow to the user selected selection. The temperature rise value does not require the installation of a temperature sensor; the automatic temperature control system includes: a water flu detector capable of detecting water flow, a heat exchanger 2 capable of heating the water flow, and a heat supply 2 when the heat exchanger 2 is burned A gas proportional control valve 3 for the required gas, a variable potentiometer 4 for the user to select the temperature rise, and a control unit 5 capable of receiving the signals of the variable potentiometer 4 and the water flu detector 1.

The control unit 5 includes a micro controller 10, a power boosting module 11 capable of boosting the voltage of the battery 6 of the water heater for the operation of the microcontroller 10, a low voltage detecting module 12 for monitoring the voltage of the battery 6, and a receiving The water flow detecting module 13 that outputs the water flow signal after the water flow detected by the water flu detector 1 and the valve body driving module 14 that drives the gas proportional adjusting valve 3 start to exchange heat after receiving the water flow signal. The ignition module 15 for igniting the device 2, the flame sensing module 16 for detecting whether the ignition is successful, and the set temperature rise detecting module 17 for receiving the temperature rise signal after receiving the temperature rise of the variable potentiometer 4.

In implementation, the low voltage detection module 12 further includes a low voltage LED display lamp 121 that is activated when the voltage of the battery 6 is lower than the setting, and reminds the user that the battery 6 is insufficient in power by the LED display lamp continuously emitting light or intermittently blinking.

The micro-controller 10 receives the water flow signal output by the water flow detecting module 13 and receives the temperature rise signal output by the set temperature rise detecting module 17, and then calculates the valve body driving module 14 to provide the gas proportional adjusting valve. 3 corresponding valve opening signal, precise control of the opening degree of the gas proportional regulating valve 3, so that the gas amount of the gas proportional regulating valve 3 supplied to the heat exchanger 2 can heat the water flow to the selected selection of the variable potentiometer 4 Temperature rise value.

In implementation, the variable potentiometer 4 includes a knob for operation by the user, and the knob is marked with a complex array for the user to select the temperature rise value of the selected temperature rise value, and the temperature rise value is selected from 5K to 50K in the figure. And H (the highest temperature rise) mark, L (lowest temperature rise) mark.

The gas proportional adjustment valve 3 includes a first differential pressure valve 21 respectively disposed on the gas flow passage 20 for controlling gas opening and closing, a control first opening of the differential pressure valve 21, and a female fire passage 30 to ignite heat exchange. a micro-electromagnetic valve 22 of the female fire port 31, a second differential pressure valve 23 disposed downstream of the first differential pressure valve 21 for controlling the gas flow rate, and a movable coil proportional electromagnetic control for controlling the opening degree of the second differential pressure valve 23. The valve 24; the moving coil proportional solenoid valve 24 can respond to the different current magnitudes provided by the valve body drive module 14 of the control unit 5, thereby controlling the opening of the second differential pressure valve 23; the second differential pressure Downstream of the valve 23 is connected to the main fire passage 40 to ignite the main fire port 41 of the heat exchanger 2.

In implementation, the selected temperature rise value of the gas proportional valve 3 and the amount of gas flow can be pre-tested in the microcontroller 10 for calculation by the microcontroller 10.

As shown in the second and fourth figures, the user first rotates the knob of the variable potentiometer 4 to select the desired temperature rise value K (K is the heat energy, available instead of C), and the knob in the figure is Adjust to 50K as an example. When the user turns on the faucet, the water flow detecting module 13 of the control unit 5 receives the water flow detected by the water flu detector 1 and outputs a water flow signal, and the water flow signal received by the water flow detecting module 13 in the figure. It is 6L.

Please refer to the third figure together. The third picture is the operation flow of the control unit 5. The micro-controller 10 receives the water flow signal and causes the ignition module 15 to drive the heat exchanger 2 to ignite, so that the gas is ignited from the micro-electromagnetic valve 22 through the parent fire channel 30 to ignite the heat exchanger 2 of the heat exchanger 2, the micro The controller 10 simultaneously causes the valve body drive module 14 to drive the gas proportional control valve 3 to open. After the ignition, the ignition sensor module 16 senses whether the ignition is successful. If the flame sensing module 16 senses the ignition and successfully outputs the flame signal to the microcontroller 10, the microcontroller 10 causes the ignition module 15 to drive the heat exchanger 2 to stop the ignition. .

The set temperature rise detection module 17 of the control unit 5 converts the voltage into a selected temperature rise value by the variable potentiometer 4, and then calculates the required heating value Q=W (water flow rate) by the microcontroller 10. K (select the temperature rise value), and finally output a corresponding valve body opening signal according to the calculated heat value Q to provide a stable gas flow.

If the micro-controller 10 receives the water flow signal of 6L, the receiving selection temperature rise value is 50K, and after the calculation, the thermal value Q is 300, the micro-controller 10 can cause the valve body drive module 14 to provide the gas proportional adjustment valve 3 Corresponding valve opening signal, the valve opening signal causes the amount of gas supplied to the heat exchanger 2 to be ignited and then raised to a large fire, so that the final heating value Q is 300, and the water flow can be heated to the selection. The temperature rise value is 50K.

As shown in the second and fifth figures, if the user turns the faucet to reduce the water volume, the water flow detection signal received by the water flow detecting module 13 is 3L, and the micro-controller 10 drives the valve body to maintain the selected temperature rise value of 50K. The module 14 drives the current supplied to the movable coil proportional solenoid valve 24 to be small, thereby controlling the opening degree of the second differential pressure valve 23 to be small, and reducing the gas flow rate.

As shown in the second and sixth figures, if the user turns the faucet to increase the water volume, the water flow rate detection module 13 receives the water flow signal of 12L. To maintain the selected temperature rise value of 50K, the micro controller 10 drives the valve body. The module 14 drives the current supply to the dynamic coil proportional solenoid valve 24 to increase, thereby controlling the second differential pressure valve 23 to increase in opening degree and increasing the gas flow rate.

As shown in the second and seventh figures, the user is shown to rotate the knob of the variable potentiometer 4 to select the temperature rise value of 5K. When the user turns on the faucet, the micro controller 10 After receiving the water flow signal and the temperature rise signal, the valve body drive module 14 provides the current of the moving coil proportional solenoid valve 24 of the gas proportional control valve 3 to decrease, so that the amount of gas supplied to the heat exchanger 2 is ignited. It is first reduced to a minimum fire for medium fire, so it can be adjusted to a very small fire. It is suitable for areas such as summer that do not need to raise higher temperatures.

With the above configuration, the system does not need to add the water inlet and outlet water temperature sensors, but according to the water flow signal and the temperature rise signal received by the microcontroller 10 of the control unit 5, the gas flow rate is accurately controlled, so that the system The gas flow rate heats the water flow to the selected temperature rise value selected by the variable potentiometer 4 to control the water temperature; that is, during the water discharge process, the micro-controller 10 receives the water flow detection module 13 to output a small water flow. The micro-controller 10 immediately causes the valve body drive module 14 to drive the opening of the gas proportional control valve 3 to reduce the flow rate of the gas heated by the water flow, so that the outlet water temperature is maintained by the variable potentiometer 4. Select the temperature rise value to avoid the loss of water flow and the gas flow rate to keep the water temperature too high.

On the contrary, the micro-controller 10 receives the signal that the water flow detecting module 13 outputs a large water flow rate, and the micro-controller 10 immediately causes the valve body driving module 14 to drive the opening of the gas proportional regulating valve 3 to increase. The flow rate of the gas heated by the water flow maintains the temperature of the outlet water to a selected temperature rise value selected by the variable potentiometer 4, thereby avoiding the disadvantage that the water flow rate is increased and the gas flow rate is kept constant to lower the outlet water temperature. In addition, in order to improve the applicability of the system, when the knob of the variable potentiometer 4 is indicated by the H mark indicating the highest temperature rise, and the pointing L mark indicates the lowest temperature rise, the gas amount does not change with the water flow level.

The above description of the embodiments and the drawings are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and should be similar or identical to the structures, devices, features, etc. of the present invention. It is within the scope of the invention and the scope of the patent application.

1‧‧‧Water Detector

2‧‧‧ heat exchanger

3‧‧‧ gas proportional valve

4‧‧‧Variable potentiometer

5‧‧‧Control unit

6‧‧‧Battery

10‧‧‧Microcontroller

11‧‧‧Power boost module

12‧‧‧Low voltage detection module

121‧‧‧Low voltage LED display light

13‧‧‧Water flow detection module

14‧‧‧ valve body drive module

15‧‧‧Ignition Module

16‧‧‧Flame sensing module

17‧‧‧Set temperature rise detection module

Claims (6)

The automatic temperature control system of the gas water heater can control the gas flow rate according to the water flow rate, and then heat the water flow to the selected temperature rise value selected by the user, without installing a temperature sensor; the automatic temperature control system comprises: A water flu detector capable of detecting water flow, a heat exchanger capable of heating the water flow, a gas proportional control valve for supplying gas required for combustion of the heat exchanger, and a variable electric power for the user to select temperature rise And a control unit capable of receiving signals of the variable potentiometer and the water flu detector, wherein the control unit is capable of calculating the water flow rate and the temperature rise of the variable potentiometer after the water flu detector is measured The opening degree of the gas proportional control valve is precisely controlled, so that the gas amount supplied to the heat exchanger by the gas proportional control valve can heat the water flow to the selected temperature rise value selected by the variable potentiometer. The automatic temperature control system for a gas water heater according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a micro-controller, a water flow detecting mode that outputs a water flow signal after receiving a water flow detected by the water flu detector. a valve body drive module for driving a gas proportional control valve, an ignition module for starting the heat exchanger after receiving a water flow signal, a flame sensing module for sensing whether the ignition is successful, and a receiving variable power After selecting the temperature rise, the output temperature rise signal is set to the temperature rise detection module, and the micro controller receives the water flow signal output by the water flow detection module and receives the temperature rise signal outputted by the set temperature rise detection module. After calculation, the valve body drive module provides a valve opening signal corresponding to the gas proportional control valve to supply the gas to the heat exchanger for combustion. The automatic temperature control system for a gas water heater according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is electrically connected to the battery, and further comprises a power supply boosting mode capable of boosting the voltage of the battery for operation of the microcontroller And a low voltage detection module for monitoring the voltage of the battery, the low voltage detection module further comprising a low voltage LED indicator light activated when the battery voltage is lower than a setting. For example, the automatic temperature control system of the gas water heater according to item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve and the selected temperature rise value achieved by the gas flow rate can be pre-tested in the micro control In the device. For example, the automatic temperature control system of the gas water heater described in claim 1 of the patent scope, The variable potentiometer includes a knob for the user to operate, and the knob is marked with a complex array for the user to select the temperature rise value of the selected temperature rise value. The automatic temperature control system for a gas water heater according to claim 2, wherein the gas proportional control valve comprises a first differential pressure valve respectively disposed on the gas flow passage for controlling gas opening and closing, and a control unit a differential pressure valve opening and a female fire passage to ignite the micro-electromagnetic valve of the heat exchanger female fire port, a second differential pressure valve disposed downstream of the first differential pressure valve for controlling the gas flow rate, and a second differential pressure control The dynamic coil proportional solenoid valve of the valve opening degree; the opening degree signal outputted by the valve body driving module is different current magnitude, and the dynamic coil proportional solenoid valve can react according to the current supplied by the valve body driving module of the control unit The position, in turn, controls the opening of the second differential pressure valve; the downstream of the second differential pressure valve is coupled to the main fire passage to ignite the main fire port of the heat exchanger.