Heat pump water heater and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10619864-B2
Application number	US-201514963794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Mar 11, 2015
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

The present invention provides a heat pump water heater and a control method thereof. The control method is used for controlling the heat pump water heater and includes: detecting a temperature of water in a water tank; if the water temperature is not larger than a first preset temperature value, controlling, by a controller, a heating device to heat at a first average heating power; if the water temperature is larger than the a second preset temperature value, controlling the heating device to stop heating; otherwise, if detecting that water flows into the water tank, controlling the heating device to heat at a second average heating power, and if detecting that no water flows into the water tank, controlling the heating device to heat at a third average heating power.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heat pump water heater, comprising:
a water tank, wherein a temperature detector and a first detector for detecting whether water flows into the water tank are arranged on the water tank;
a heater for heating water in the water tank; and
a controller, wherein the heater, the temperature detector and the first detector are all electrically connected with the controller, and the controller is configured to control the heater to heat at different powers,
wherein the first detector comprises:
a flowmeter arranged at a water inlet or a water outlet of the water tank; and
a comparator, wherein the comparator is electrically connected with the flowmeter, and is configured to store a preset flow rate therein, and to compare the preset flow rate with a flow rate of water detected by the flowmeter;
wherein the controller is configured to:
control the heater to heat at a first average heating power if a temperature of water in the water tank is not higher than a first preset temperature;
control the heater to stop heating if the temperature of water in the water tank is higher than a second preset temperature;
control the heater to heat at a second average heating power if the temperature of water in the water tank is between the first preset temperature and the second preset temperature, and the flow rate of water detected by the flowmeter is higher than the preset flow rate;
control the heater to heat at a third average heating power if the temperature of water in the water tank is between the first preset temperature and the second preset temperature, and the flow rate of water detected by the flowmeter is not higher than the preset flow rate; and, wherein
the second preset temperature is higher than the first preset temperature, and the first average heating power and the second average heating power are larger than the third average heating power;
wherein the heater comprises a first sub-heater, a second sub-heater and a third sub-heater, and the first sub-heater, the second sub-heater and the third sub-heater are all electrically connected with the controller; the first sub-heater comprises a heat pump, both of the second sub-heater and the third sub-heater are electric heaters;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
if the temperature of water in the water tank is not higher than the first preset temperature, control the second sub-heater to heat at first, when the temperature of water in the water tank rises to the fourth preset temperature, control the first sub-heater to heat, and when the temperature of water in the water tank rises to the fifth preset temperature, controlling the first sub-heater to stop heating; and
if the temperature of water in the water tank is between the first preset temperature and the second preset temperature, and the flow rate of water flowing into the water tank is higher than the preset flow rate, control the third sub-heater to heat, and when the water temperature in the water tank rises to the fifth preset temperature, control the third sub-heater to stop heating; when detecting that the flow rate of water flowing into the water tank is not higher than the preset flow rate, control the first sub-heater to heat, and when the water temperature in the water tank rises to the fifth preset temperature, control the first sub-heater to stop heating;
wherein the fifth preset temperature is higher than the fourth preset temperature.

2. The heat pump water heater of claim 1 , wherein,
the heater comprises a plurality of sub-heaters, and the plurality of sub-heaters are all electrically connected with the controller.

3. The heat pump water heater of claim 1 , wherein,
the heat pump composed of a compressor, a condenser, a throttling component and an evaporator, which are connected in sequence, a condenser pipe of the condenser being coiled on the water tank, and the compressor being electrically connected with the controller;
the second sub-heater being installed at one end close to a water inlet of the water tank, and the third sub-heater being installed at one end close to a water outlet of the water tank.

4. The heat pump water heater of claim 1 , wherein,
the heat pump composed of a compressor, a condenser, a throttling component and an evaporator, which are connected in sequence, a condenser pipe of the condenser being coiled on the water tank, and the compressor being electrically connected with the controller;
the second sub-heater being installed at one end close to a water outlet of the water tank, and the third sub-heater being installed at one end close to a water inlet of the water tank.

5. A heat pump water heater, comprising:
a water tank, wherein a temperature detector and a first detector for detecting whether water flows into the water tank are arranged on the water tank;
a heater for heating water in the water tank; and
a controller, wherein the heater, the temperature detector and the first detector are all electrically connected with the controller, and the controller is configured to control the heater to heat at different powers,
wherein the first detector comprises:
a flowmeter arranged at a water inlet or a water outlet of the water tank; and
a comparator, wherein the comparator is electrically connected with the temperature detector, and is configured to store a preset water temperature reduction speed therein, and to compare the preset water temperature reduction speed with a water temperature reduction speed detected by the water temperature detector;
wherein the controller is configured to:
control the heater to heat at a first average heating power if a temperature of water in the water tank is not higher than a first preset temperature;
control the heater to stop heating if the temperature of water in the water tank is higher than a second preset temperature;
control the heater to heat at a second average heating power if the temperature of water in the water tank is between the first preset temperature and the second preset temperature, and the water temperature reduction speed detected by the water temperature detector is higher than the preset water temperature reduction speed;
control the heater to heat at a third average heating power if the temperature of water in the water tank is between the first preset temperature and the second preset temperature, and the water temperature reduction speed detected by the water temperature detector is not higher than the preset water temperature reduction speed;
the second preset temperature is higher than the first preset temperature, the first average heating power and the second average heating power are larger than the third average heating power;
wherein the heater comprises a first sub-heater, a second sub-heater and a third sub-heater, and the first sub-heater, the second sub-heater and the third sub-heater are all electrically connected with the controller; the first sub-heater comprises a heat pump, both of the second sub-heater and the third sub-heater are electric heaters;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
if the temperature of water in the water tank is not higher than the first preset temperature, control the second sub-heater to heat at first, when the temperature of water in the water tank rises to the fourth preset temperature, control the first sub-heater to heat, and when the temperature of water in the water tank rises to the fifth preset temperature, controlling the first sub-heater to stop heating; and
if the temperature of water in the water tank is between the first preset temperature and the second preset temperature, and the flow rate of water flowing into the water tank is higher than the preset flow rate, control the third sub-heater to heat, and when the water temperature in the water tank rises to t

Assignees

• Gd Midea Heating & Ventilating Equipment Co Ltd
• Midea Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Luo Mingwen

Classifications

• F24D12/02

  having more than one heat source (using heat pumps, in water central heating systems F24D3/18; in air central heating systems F24D5/12; in systems using heat storage masses F24D11/02) · CPC title

• F24H4/04

  Storage heaters · CPC title

• F24D19/1072 Primary

  the system uses a heat pump · CPC title

• Y02B30/14

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F24D19/1081

  counting of energy consumption · CPC title