Patent Application
20250123006
This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0136427, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 13, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a heating system and a method of controlling the same.
Generally, an indoor heating system performs indoor heating by transferring heat generated by combusting fuel to air and distributing the heated air to each room.
The indoor heating system according to the related art performs heating through the heated air and thus may be restrictively used only for the indoor heating.
Thus, a separate hot water heating apparatus for heating hot water should be provided to use the hot water, a separate duct connected to an air heating apparatus and the hot water heating apparatus is required, and thus installation costs increase, and a space for installation is required.
To solve this problem, a system for implementing both a heating function and a hot water function has been developed, but it is not easy to provide both the heating function and the hot water function, and when both the heating function and the hot water function are provided, heating performance and a hot water temperature do not reach target values.
The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art while advantages achieved by the prior art are maintained intact.
An aspect of the present disclosure provides a heating system in which a hot water heating flow path passing through a hot water tank is coupled onto a heating water supply flow path through which heating water for indoor heating is supplied, hot water is heated through the heating water, and thus as an air heating apparatus and a hot water heating apparatus for the indoor heating are operated, space utilization is improved, and costs are reduced, and a method of controlling the same.
Further, another aspect of the present disclosure provides a heating system that may perform both an indoor heating operation and a hot water heating operation at the same time, thereby increasing efficiency, and a method of controlling the same.
Further, still another aspect of the present disclosure provides a heating system that, even when both the indoor heating operation and the hot water heating operation are performed simultaneously, allows a temperature of air discharged to the indoors and a temperature of hot water to converge to target temperatures, and thus improves performance of the heating system, and a method of controlling the same.
The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned problems, and any other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood from the following description by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a heating system includes a water heating apparatus that heats water and supplies heating water for indoor heating through a heating water supply flow path, a hot water heating apparatus that heats hot water stored in a hot water tank using the heating water supplied from a hot water heating flow path coupled to one point on the heating water supply flow path, and a controller that controls a heating operation by controlling a flow rate of at least one of the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path according to an operation mode, wherein, when operating in a heating and hot water mode, the controller opens both the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path to control both indoor heating and hot water heating to be performed and adjusts flow rates at which the water is supplied to the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path according to control priority of an indoor heating operation and a hot water heating operation.
In an embodiment, the water heating apparatus may include a first heat exchanger that generates the heating water by exchanging heat between exhaust gas burned in a burner and the water, a second heat exchanger that generates heated air by exchanging heat between the heating water generated by the first heat exchanger and air, a fan that blows the air to the second heat exchanger, and a heating valve installed on the heating water supply flow path connecting the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to open or close the heating water supply flow path.
In the embodiment, one side of the hot water heating flow path may be coupled to one point on the heating water supply flow path between the first heat exchanger and the heating valve so that the heating water flowing through the heating water supply flow path is introduced, the other side thereof may be coupled to one point on a return water flow path that returns the water heat-exchanged by the second heat exchanger to an expansion tank, and a heating area that transfers heat to the hot water in the hot water tank may be formed in a predetermined section.
In the embodiment, the heating system may further include a hot water heating valve installed on the hot water heating flow path to open or close the hot water heating flow path.
In the embodiment, the controller may control the heating valve to be opened and the hot water heating valve to be closed in a heating mode, control the heating valve to be closed and the hot water heating valve to be opened in a heating water mode, and control both the heating valve and the hot water heating valve to be opened and control opening degrees of the heating valve and the hot water heating valve based on a ratio of a heating flow rate at which the water is supplied to the second heat exchanger and a hot water heating flow rate at which the water is supplied to the hot water heating flow path in the heating and hot water mode.
In the embodiment, in the heating and hot water mode, when the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate do not reach target flow rates, the controller may feedback the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate to increase the opening degrees of the heating valve and the hot water heating valve.
In the embodiment, in the heating and hot water mode, the controller may increase or decrease the opening degrees of the heating valve and the hot water heating valve so that a temperature of the heating water supplied to the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path reaches a temperature higher than a target hot water temperature set in the hot water tank.
In the embodiment, in the heating and hot water mode, the controller may control an amount of combustion heat of the first heat exchanger so that the temperature of the heating water supplied to the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path reaches a maximum heating temperature.
In the embodiment, in the heating and hot water mode, the controller may control an air volume of the fan so that an indoor temperature reaches a target temperature.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a heating system includes supplying heating water heated by a water heating apparatus according to an operation mode of the heating system, and controlling a heating operation by controlling a flow rate of at least one of a heating water supply flow path through which the heating water is supplied for indoor heating and a hot water heating flow path which is coupled to one point on the heating water supply flow path and through which the heating water for heating hot water stored in a hot water tank of a hot water heating apparatus is supplied, wherein the controlling of the heating operation includes, in a heating and hot water mode, controlling both the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path to be opened to perform both indoor heating and hot water heating, and adjusting a flow rate at which the water is supplied to the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path according to control priority of the indoor heating and the hot water heating.
In an embodiment, the adjusting of the flow rate may include, in a heating mode, controlling a heating valve that is installed on the heating water supply flow path and opens or closes the heating water supply flow path to be opened and a hot water heating valve that is installed on the hot water heating flow path and opens or closes the hot water heating flow path to be closed, in a hot water mode, controlling the heating valve to be closed and the hot water heating valve to be opened, and in the heating and hot water mode, controlling both the heating valve and the hot water heating valve to be opened, and controlling opening degrees of the heating valve and the hot water heating valve based on a ratio of a heating flow rate at which the water is supplied to a heat exchanger that heats air for indoor heating and a hot water heating flow rate at which the water is supplied to the hot water heating flow path.
In the embodiment, the controlling of the heating operation may further include, in the heating and hot water mode, feeding back the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate and increasing the opening degrees of the heating valve and the hot water heating valve when the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate do not reach target flow rates.
In the embodiment, the controlling of the heating operation may further include, in the heating and hot water mode, increasing or decreasing the opening degrees of the heating valve and the hot water heating valve so that a temperature of the heating water supplied to the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path reaches a temperature higher than a target hot water temperature set in the hot water tank.
In the embodiment, the controlling of the heating operation may further include, in the heating and hot water mode, controlling an amount of combustion heat of the heat exchanger that generates the heating water so that the temperature of the heating water supplied to the heating water supply flow path and the hot water heating flow path reaches a maximum heating temperature.
In the embodiment, the controlling of the heating operation may further include, in the heating and hot water mode, controlling an air volume of a fan that blows air to the heat exchanger that heats the air so that an indoor temperature reaches a target temperature.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to components of each drawing, it should be noted that identical or equivalent components are designated by an identical numeral even when they are displayed on other drawings. Further, in describing the embodiment of the present disclosure, a detailed description of the related known configuration or function will be omitted when it is determined that it interferes with the understanding of the embodiment of the present disclosure.
In describing the components of the embodiment according to the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used. These terms are merely intended to distinguish one component from other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
An air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be installed in a house. The air heating apparatus may be connected to ducts connected to rooms in the house and transfer heated air to the rooms to perform indoor heating. The air may flow into the air heating apparatus from an outside of the house or may return to the air heating apparatus through the room of the house. However, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, a description will be made based on assumption that the air returns.
In the specification of the present disclosure, a front-rear direction, a left-right direction, and an up-down direction are referred to for convenience of description and may be directions orthogonal to each other. However, this direction is determined relative to a direction in which the air heating apparatus is disposed, and the up-down direction may not necessarily refer to a vertical direction.
Further, the wording “flow path” used in the embodiment of the present disclosure may mean a tube-shaped pipe in which a fluid may flow and may mean a component that may have various materials and shapes, such as a soft tube and a metal pipe.
Further, in the specification of the present disclosure, the expressions “upstream” and “downstream” may be interpreted based on a flow direction of the fluid. For example, when the fluid flows from a left side to a right side, the left side may correspond to an upstream side, and the right side may correspond to a downstream side.
First, a basic component of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
As illustrated in
The air heating apparatus 1 heats water stored in the expansion tank 20 in a first heat exchanger 32 of the heat exchanging unit 30 and then transfers the heated water to the second heat exchanger 40. The heated water transferred to the second heat exchanger 40 heats air blown from the fan 50. In this case, the heated air is transferred to rooms, and thus the indoor heating is performed.
Hereinafter, components of the air heating apparatus 1 will be described in more detail with reference to
The expansion tank 20, which is a unit for storing the water, may be connected to a water supply flow path 21 to receive the water from the outside through the water supply flow path 21. In this case, a water replenishment valve 22 of which an opening or closing state is controlled by a controller 200 may be installed on the water supply flow path 21. Accordingly, when there is a shortage of the water in the expansion tank 20, the controller 200 may open the water replenishment valve 22 to replenish the water in the expansion tank 20 through the water supply flow path 21.
A water level sensor 24 that senses a water level inside the expansion tank 20 may be disposed inside the expansion tank 20. The water level sensor 24 may be connected to the controller 200 and provide water level sensing information to the controller 200.
Here, the expansion tank 20 may be formed to accommodate a change in a volume according to a change in a temperature of the water. Further, the expansion tank 20 may be configured in an open type to accommodate volume expansion by the water.
When the temperature changes or the water flows into or out from the expansion tank 20 in a state in which the expansion tank 20 is filled with the water, an internal pressure of the expansion tank 20 may also change. Accordingly, the water accommodated in the expansion tank 20 may be provided to other components along a heating water supply flow path 60 connected to the expansion tank 20.
The expansion tank 20 may be connected to the heating water supply flow path 60 to supply the water to the heat exchanging unit 30 through the heating water supply flow path 60. The heating water supply flow path 60 may be a flow path connecting the expansion tank 20, the heat exchanging unit 30, and the second heat exchanger 40 to each other. Accordingly, the water discharged from the expansion tank 20 to the heating water supply flow path 60 may flow into the second heat exchanger 40 through the heat exchanging unit 30.
A circulation pump 61 may be installed between the expansion tank 20 and the heat exchanging unit 30 in the heating water supply flow path 60. The circulation pump 61 pumps the water introduced into the heating water supply flow path 60 toward the heat exchanging unit 30 to smoothly supply the water to the first heat exchanger 32. The circulation pump 61 may be connected to the controller 200 and operate based on a control signal from the controller 200.
Further, the expansion tank 20 may be connected to a return water flow path 70. The return water flow path 70 may be a flow path formed to connect the second heat exchanger 40 and the expansion tank 20 to return the water heat-exchanged with the air in the second heat exchanger 40 to the expansion tank 20.
The heat exchanging unit 30 may be installed on the heating water supply flow path 60 connecting the expansion tank 20 and the second heat exchanger 40, heat the water introduced from the expansion tank 20, and discharge the heated water to the second heat exchanger 40. The heat exchanging unit 30 may heat the water by causing a combustion reaction and transferring heat generated by the combustion reaction to the water.
The heat exchanging unit 30 may include a burner 31 and the first heat exchanger 32.
The burner 31 may receive fuel and the air and form a flame in a mixture of the fuel and the air using an ignition plug to cause a combustion reaction to occur. Here, the fuel may be natural gas including methane, ethane, and the like and used for power generation or may be oil, but the type thereof is not limited thereto.
The burner 31 may include a blower that transmits the air to cause the combustion reaction, a fuel nozzle that injects the fuel, and the ignition plug that generates a spark for ignition. Further, the burner 31 may further include a mixing chamber (not illustrated) for mixing the fuel and the air.
In this case, the water may be heated as the heat and the combustion gas generated by the combustion reaction are transferred to the water. The first heat exchanger 32 for transferring the heat generated by the burner 31 to the water may be disposed under the burner 31. The first heat exchanger 32 allows an exhaust gas combusted in the burner 31 to exchange heat with the water supplied through the heating water supply flow path 60.
A heating valve 110 for opening or closing the heating water supply flow path 60 may be installed on the heating water supply flow path 60 connecting the heat exchanging unit 30 and the second heat exchanger 40. Here, the wording “opening or closing” may mean an open state in which the water may pass through the heating water supply flow path 60 and a closed state in which the water is prevented from passing through the heating water supply flow path 60.
The heating valve 110 may have an inlet connected to the heat exchanging unit 30 in the heating water supply flow path 60 and an outlet connected to the second heat exchanger 40 in the heating water supply flow path 60.
In this case, an opening or closing operation of the heating valve 110 may be controlled by the controller 200. As an example, the heating valve 110 may be opened when the heating system operates in a heating mode or in a heating and hot water mode and may be closed when the heating system operates in a hot water mode. An opening degree of the heating valve 110 may be adjusted by the controller 200 according to a temperature of discharged air, a temperature of suctioned air, or the like.
The second heat exchanger 40 performs heat exchange between the water supplied through the heating water supply flow path 60 and the air. In this case, the second heat exchanger 40 receives the water heated by the heat exchanging unit 30 and exchanges heat between the water and the air to be discharged for heating.
The second heat exchanger 40 may include a heat exchanging tube through which the water heated by the heat exchanging unit 30 may flow. The heat exchanging tube may be formed in a pipe shape so that the water flows through an inside thereof and the air blown by the fan 50 may flow therethrough and may be provided to form a flow path winding in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The heat exchanging tube may be made of a material including aluminum and copper.
The fan 50 blows the air to the second heat exchanger 40. As illustrated in
As another example, the fan 50 may be installed on an upper side of the second heat exchanger 40 and the outlet through which the air is discharged may be formed to face the lower side. In this case, the fan 50 may blow the air to the lower side such that the air passes through the second heat exchanger 40.
The fan 50 may include a motor, a wing, and the like and may be electrically connected to the controller 200. Thus, as the fan 50 is electrically controlled and operated by the controller 200, the motor rotates the wing so that the air may be blown. The fan 50 may further include an impeller or the like for pumping the air.
An empty ventilation space may be formed between the fan 50 and the second heat exchanger 40 in an inner space of the case 10.
The air introduced into the fan 50 is blown in an upward direction (or a downward direction), and the blown air may be heated by receiving the heat from the water passing through the second heat exchanger 40 while passing through the second heat exchanger 40. The heated air may be transferred to an indoor space of the house, that is, each room, through a discharge duct 2. The discharge duct 2 may be formed to communicate with the indoor space and used as a passage for guiding the air discharged from the fan 50 to the indoor space.
An indoor temperature sensor 4 may be installed in the indoor space. Here, the indoor temperature sensor 4 may be included in an indoor temperature adjuster installed in the indoor space, but may be installed separately. The indoor temperature sensor 4 may be electrically connected to the controller 200 to transmit information on the indoor temperature measured in the indoor space to the controller 200.
A discharge air temperature sensor 5 for measuring a temperature of the air discharged from the fan 50 may be installed in the discharge duct 2. Accordingly, the controller 200 may control operations of the heat exchanging unit 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the air acquired by the discharge air temperature sensor 5 with a target discharge air temperature.
In this case, the air transferred to each room or cold air introduced into the house from the outside may be introduced back into the fan 50 through a suction duct 3. The suction duct 3 may be formed to communicate with the indoor space and used as a passage for guiding the indoor air to the fan 50.
Here, a suction air temperature sensor 6 for measuring the temperature of the air suctioned from the indoor space may be installed in the suction duct 3. Accordingly, the controller 200 may control the operations of the heat exchanging unit 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the air acquired by the suction air temperature sensor 6 with a target suction air temperature.
The water introduced into the second heat exchanger 40 through the heating water supply flow path 60 may return to the expansion tank 20 through the return water flow path 70 after the heat exchange. In this case, a return water temperature sensor 71 for measuring the temperature of the returned water, that is, a return water temperature, may be further installed on the outlet of the second heat exchanger 40 in the return water flow path 70.
The hot water heating apparatus 90 of the heating system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a hot water tank 91. As an example, the hot water tank 91 may be a storage hot water tank, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the hot water tank 91 may be a direct water hot water tank.
The hot water tank 91 may receive the heat from a hot water heating flow path 80 passing through an inside of the hot water tank 91 to heat the hot water.
Here, the hot water heating flow path 80 is a flow path through which the water heated by the heat exchanging unit 30 of the air heating apparatus 1 passes through the inside of the hot water tank 91.
One end of the hot water heating flow path 80 may be coupled to a first point P1 on the heating water supply flow path 60 connecting the heat exchanging unit 30 and the heating valve 110, and the other end thereof may be coupled to a second point P2 on the return water flow path 70 connecting the second heat exchanger 40 and the expansion tank 20.
A heating area 81 may be formed in one section of the hot water heating flow path 80. In this case, the heating area 81 of the hot water heating flow path 80 may be an area that is installed to pass through the inside of the hot water tank 91 and supplies the heat to the hot water in the hot water tank 91. Here, the heating area of the hot water heating flow path 80 may be formed in a spiral shape extending upward from a lower portion of the hot water tank 91.
The hot water heating flow path 80 may be installed so that the heating area passes through the inside of the hot water tank 91, but may be formed so that an inside of the hot water heating flow path 80 and the inside of the hot water tank 91 may not communicate with each other.
Thus, the water heated by the heat exchanging unit 30 may be supplied to the hot water heating flow path 80 at the first point P1, pass through the heating area formed inside the hot water tank 91, and then return to the expansion tank 20 through the return water flow path 70 at the second point P2.
A hot water heating valve 120 for opening or closing the hot water heating flow path 80 may be installed between the first point P1 of the hot water heating flow path 80 and the heating area 81. Here, the wording “opening or closing” may mean an open state in which the water may pass through the hot water heating flow path 80 and a closed state in which the water is prevented from passing through the hot water heating flow path 80.
The hot water heating valve 120 may have an inlet connected to the first point P1 of the hot water heating flow path 80 and an outlet connected to the heating area 81 of the hot water heating flow path 80.
In this case, an opening or closing operation of the hot water heating valve 120 may be controlled by the controller 200. As an example, the hot water heating valve 120 may be opened when the heating system operates in the hot water mode or in the heating and hot water mode and may be closed when the heating system operates in the heating mode. An opening degree of the hot water heating valve 120 may be adjusted by the controller 200 according to input of an adjustment device (not illustrated) connected to the hot water heating apparatus 90.
Further, a discharge water temperature sensor 82 may be installed between the heating area 81 in the hot water heating flow path 80 and the second point P2. The discharge water temperature sensor 82 may measure the temperature of the water discharged from the heating area 81. The discharge water temperature sensor 82 may transmit information on the measured temperature of discharge water to the controller 200.
A hot water temperature sensor 92 may be installed in the hot water tank 91. The hot water temperature sensor 92 may be coupled to the hot water tank 91 and electrically connected to the controller 200. The hot water temperature sensor 92 may measure the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank 91 while the heat is supplied through the heating area 81 of the hot water heating flow path 80 and transmit information on the measured temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank 91 to the controller 200.
A heating water temperature sensor 63 for measuring the temperature of the water supplied along the heating water supply flow path 60 and/or the hot water heating flow path 80 may be installed on an outlet side of the heat exchanging unit 30 in the heating water supply flow path 60. In this case, the heating water temperature sensor 63 may transmit information on the measured temperature of the heating water to the controller 200, and the controller 200 may control a heat amount based on the information on the temperature of the heating water.
A first flow rate sensor 62 for measuring a total flow rate at which the water flows into the heat exchanging unit 30 may be installed on an inlet side of the heat exchanging unit 30 in the heating water supply flow path 60. Further, a second flow rate sensor 64 for measuring a heating flow rate at which the water flows into the second heat exchanger 40 while passing through the heating valve 110 may be installed on the outlet side of the heating valve 110 in the heating water supply flow path 60.
In this case, the first flow rate sensor 62 and the second flow rate sensor 64 transmit information on the measured flow rate to the controller 200. Accordingly, the controller 200 may predict a flow rate at which the water flows into the hot water heating flow path 80, that is, a hot water heating flow rate, based on the information on the flow rate transmitted from the first flow rate sensor 62 and the second flow rate sensor 64. Further, the controller 200 may increase or decrease an opening degree of the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120 so that each flow rate converges to a target flow rate while each flow rate is fed back.
The heating system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include the controller 200. Here, the controller 200 may be implemented in the form of an independent hardware device including a memory and at least one processor that processes each operation and may be driven in the form included in other hardware devices such as microprocessors and general-purpose computer systems. At least one processor may be implemented as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, and/or a microprocessor.
Further, control commands executed by the at least one processor may be stored in a memory and utilized. The memory may include a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state disk (SSD), a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable read only memory (PROM), an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM), and/or an erasable and programmable ROM (EPROM).
The controller 200 may be connected to each component of the heating system to perform an overall function of the heating system. In this case, the controller 200 may be electrically connected to the components included in the heating system. The controller 200 may control the heating system or the components in an optimum state by performing calculation using the information received from the components included in the heating system and transmitting the control signal.
The controller 200 may operate in conjunction with the components of the heating system. Accordingly, the controller 200 may evenly maintain heating efficiency of the heating system by acquiring information on or control data of the water and the air circulating in the heating system in real time and controlling the information or the control data in an integrated manner, and may automatically set an entire system to an optimum state suitable for an operation mode.
The controller 200 may be electrically connected to valves, for example, the water replenishment valve 22, the heating valve 110, and the hot water heating valve 120 to control opening or closing operations of the water replenishment valve 22, the heating valve 110, and the hot water heating valve 120. Likewise, the controller 200 may be electrically connected to the heat exchanging unit 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 to control operations of the heat exchanging unit 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61.
In this case, the controller 200 may control the operations of the valves, the heat exchanging unit 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 according to the operation mode of the heating system, for example, the heating mode, the hot water mode, and the heating and hot water mode.
Accordingly, a detailed control operation in the heating mode will be described with reference to
Referring to
The controller 200 may control whether to operate the air heating apparatus 1 based on a value obtained by comparing the indoor temperature acquired from the indoor temperature sensor 4 installed in the indoor with a target indoor temperature.
Further, the controller 200 may control an amount of combustion heat based on the temperature information measured from the discharge air temperature sensor 5 or the suction air temperature sensor 6. In this case, the controller 200 may control the operations of the heat exchanging unit 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 to compare the measured temperature with a target temperature, to feed back a temperature difference identified as a result of the comparison, and to transfer the necessary amount of combustion heat to a target location.
As an example, the controller 200 may control the amount of combustion heat based on the temperature of the discharge air measured by the discharge air temperature sensor 5. When the temperature of the discharge air acquired from the discharge air temperature sensor 5 does not reach the target discharge air temperature, the controller 200 may control the operations of the heat exchanging unit 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 to increase the amount of combustion heat of the heat exchanging unit 30.
As another example, the controller 200 may control the amount of combustion heat based on the temperature of the suction air measured by the suction air temperature sensor 6. When the temperature of the suction air acquired from the suction air temperature sensor 6 does not reach the target suction air temperature, the controller 200 may control the operations of the heat exchanging unit 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 to increase the amount of combustion heat of the heat exchanging unit 30.
Further, an operation in the hot water mode will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
Referring to
In other words, when operating in the hot water mode, the water flowing from the expansion tank 20 into the heating water supply flow path 60 passes through the heat exchanging unit 30, flows into the hot water heating flow path 80 at the first point P1, passes through the heating area 81, flows into the return water flow path 70 at the second point P2, and then returns back to the expansion tank 20.
While the heated water circulates along the partial section of the heating water supply flow path 60, the hot water heating flow path 80, and the return water flow path 70, the hot water stored in the hot water tank 91 may be heated.
The controller 200 may control the operations of the heat exchanging unit 30 and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the hot water measured from the hot water temperature sensor 92 installed in the hot water tank 91 with a target hot water temperature. When the temperature of the hot water obtained from the hot water temperature sensor 92 is lower than the target hot water temperature, the controller 200 may control the operations of the heat exchanging unit 30 and the circulation pump 61. In this case, as the water heated through the heat exchanging unit 30 flows into the hot water heating flow path 80, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank 91 may be increased.
Meanwhile, the controller 200 may perform proportional control of the amount of combustion heat based on the temperature of the water.
As an example, when operating in the hot water mode, the heating water temperature sensor 63 may measure the temperature of the heating water supplied to the hot water heating flow path 80. Accordingly, the controller 200 may control the amount of combustion heat of the heat exchanging unit 30 based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the heating water obtained from the heating water temperature sensor 63 with a target heating water temperature.
As another example, the controller 200 may control the amount of combustion heat of the heat exchanging unit 30 based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the discharge water obtained from the discharge water temperature sensor 82 with a target discharge water temperature.
Further, a detailed control operation in the heating and hot water mode will be described with reference to
The heating and hot water mode may mean a mode that simultaneously operates in a heating mode requiring the heating of the indoor air and a hot water mode requiring the heating of the hot water.
In the heating and hot water mode, because the heating mode and the hot water mode are simultaneously performed, the controller 200 may control both the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120 to be opened. Accordingly, as both the heating water supply flow path 60 and the hot water heating flow path 80 are opened, the water circulates along the heating water supply flow path 60, the hot water heating flow path 80, and the return water flow path 70. Since a movement path of the water and operations of the components in the heating and hot water mode correspond to a combination of the operations of the heating mode and the hot water mode, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Meanwhile, when operating in the heating and hot water mode, the controller 200 may control opening degrees of the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120 based on the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate identified while the water circulates along the heating water supply flow path 60, the hot water heating flow path 80, and the return water flow path 70. In this case, the controller 200 may independently control the opening degrees of the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120.
The controller 200 acquires information on the total flow rate from the first flow rate sensor 62 and acquires information on the heating flow rate from the second flow rate sensor 64. In this case, the controller 200 may predict information on the hot water heating flow rate based on the total flow rate and the heating flow rate. As an example, the controller 200 may predict the hot water heating flow rate based on a value obtained by subtracting the heating flow rate from the total flow rate.
The controller 200 may identify whether each flow rate reaches a target flow rate while feeding back the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate, and accordingly, may increase or decrease the opening degrees of the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120. As an example, when it is identified that the heating flow rate and/or the hot water heating flow rate do not reach the target flow rates, the controller 200 may increase the opening degree of the heating valve and/or the hot water heating valve while feeding back the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate so that the heating flow rate and/or the hot water heating flow rate reach the target flow rates.
In this case, the controller 200 may determine a ratio of the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate in proportion to the amount of heat required for the indoor heating and the hot water heating and may control the opening degrees of the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120 according to the determined ratio. The ratio of the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate may be adjusted according to a control priority of an indoor heating operation and a hot water heating operation.
The controller 200 may increase or decrease the opening degrees of the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120 so that the temperature of the water supplied to the heating water supply flow path 60 and the hot water heating flow path 80 reaches a temperature higher than the target hot water temperature set in the hot water tank 91.
The controller 200 may control the amount of combustion heat so that the temperature of the water supplied to the heating water supply flow path 60 and the hot water heating flow path 80 reaches a maximum temperature that may be achieved by the heat exchanging unit 30.
Further, the controller 200 may control an air volume of the fan 50 so that the temperature of the indoor air reaches the target temperature while the heated water is supplied through the heating water supply flow path 60.
Here, an air volume control value of the fan 50 may be calculated with reference to [Equation 1] below.
In [Equation 1], a target air temperature difference may mean a difference between the target discharge air temperature and the target suction air temperature, and “a” may mean a predetermined constant. Here, the target discharge air temperature is a temperature previously set in the heating system for controlling the temperature of the discharge air. Thus, the controller 200 may control the heat amount so that the temperature of the discharge air measured by the discharge air temperature sensor 5 reaches a preset target discharge air temperature. Here, the control of the heat amount means controlling the amount of heat supplied to the heating and the hot water by controlling the flow rate distributed to the heating water supply flow path 60 and the hot water heating flow path 80. The temperature of the suction air means the temperature of the air measured by the suction air temperature sensor 6.
Further, an indoor heating output may be a value calculated with reference to [Equation 2] below.
In [Equation 2], the temperature of the heating water may mean a temperature measured by the heating water temperature sensor 63, the temperature of the return water may mean a temperature measured by the return water temperature sensor 71, the heating flow rate may mean a temperature measured by the second flow rate sensor 64 installed on the heating water supply flow path 60, and “b” may mean a predetermined constant.
Accordingly, the heating system according to the embodiment of the present invention may use the heated water to heat the air for indoor heating or heat the hot water according to the operation modes, perform both the indoor heating operation and the hot water heating operation, and thus increase heating efficiency. Further. the heating system may allow a hot water heating temperature and an indoor heating temperature reach target temperatures even when the indoor heating operation and the hot water heating operation are simultaneously performed, and thus improve performance of the heating system.
An operation flow of the heating system according to the present invention configured as described above will be described in more detail below.
Referring to
When operating in the heating and hot water mode (S130), the heating system may control the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120 to be opened (S140). When the heating system does not operate in the heating and hot water mode, the heating system may operate in the heating mode or the hot water mode (S135).
In operation S140, when the heating water is supplied through the heating water supply flow path 60 and the hot water heating flow path 80 as the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120 are opened, the heating system may measure the heating flow rate (S150) and calculate the hot water heating flow rate based on the heating flow rate (S160). In operation S160, the heating system may calculate a value obtained by subtracting the heating flow rate from the total flow rate as the hot water heating flow rate.
The heating system may identify the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate, determine a ratio of the flow rates supplied through the heating water supply flow path 60 and the hot water heating flow path 80 according to control priority of the heating operation and the hot water heating operation (S170), and adjust the opening degrees of the heating valve 110 and the hot water heating valve 120 according to the ratio of the flow rates determined in operation S170 (S180).
The heating system may identify whether the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate reach the target flow rates, and when the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate do not reach the target flow rates, the heating system may repeatedly perform operations S150 to S190 until the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate reach the target flow rates. As an example, when the heating flow rate and/or the hot water heating flow rate do not reach the target flow rates, the heating system may feedback the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate while repeatedly performing operations S150 to S190, to increase the opening degrees of the heating valve and/or the hot water heating valve so that the heating flow rate and/or the hot water heating flow rate reach the target flow rates.
When it is identified that the heating flow rate and the hot water heating flow rate reach the target flow rates in operation S190, the heating system controls the heat amount of the water circulating along the path and controls the air volume of the fan 50 according to the temperature of the air discharged to the indoor space (S200). In operation S200, the heating system may control the amount of combustion heat so that the temperature of the water is higher than a temperature set in the hot water tank 91 or reaches the maximum temperature that may be heated by the heat exchanging unit 30. Further, the heating system may control the air volume of the fan 50 so that the temperature of the discharged air may reach a temperature set for the indoor space in operation S200.
Although not illustrated in
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a hot water heating flow path passing through a hot water tank is coupled onto a heating water supply flow path through which heating water for indoor heating is supplied, hot water is heated through the heating water, and thus as an air heating apparatus and a hot water heating apparatus for the indoor heating are operated, space utilization may be improved, and costs may be reduced.
Further, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, both an indoor heating operation and a hot water heating operation may be performed at the same time, thereby increasing efficiency.
Further, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, even when both the indoor heating operation and the hot water heating operation are performed simultaneously, a temperature of air discharged to the indoors and a temperature of hot water may converge to target temperatures, and thus performance of a heating system may be improved.
The above description is merely illustrative of the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential features of the present disclosure.
Thus, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are not intended to limit the technology spirit of the present disclosure, but are intended to describe the present disclosure, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the appended claims, and all technical spirits within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0136427 | Oct 2023 | KR | national |
