Smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger

Abstract

A smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger, a cold-water pipe, a hot-water pipe, an internal circulation pipe, and a control unit. The heat exchanger includes a storage space. The internal circulation pipe includes a two-way valve and a circulation pump. The control unit is connected to the two-way valve and the circulation pump. The internal circulation pipe functions to return a part of heated water back to the storage space to enhance thermal conversion efficiency and save energy and improve controllability. Positions for supplying cold water and returning water are made at different sites, and the circulation pump and the internal circulation pipe are used to selectively execute functions of anti-freezing, pre-heating, and heat balancing. An external circulation pipe is additionally included such that by means of the two-way valve and the circulation pump, switching can be made between internal and external circulations.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger, comprising:
 a heat exchanger, which is arranged in an interior of a water heater, the heat exchanger comprising a heat source supply structure and a storage space, wherein the heat source supply structure heats cold water contained in the storage space to convert into hot water,   a cold-water pipe, which is connected to the heat exchanger at a first position to supply cold water into the storage space;   a hot-water pipe, which is connected to the heat exchanger at a second position to discharge the hot water generated in the storage space;   an internal circulation pipe, which is disposed in the interior of the water heater, the internal circulation pipe having two ends that are respectively connected to the hot-water pipe and the storage space to allow hot water contained in the hot-water pipe to return back to the storage space to enhance thermal conversion efficiency, the internal circulation pipe being combined with a two-way valve and a circulation pump; and   a control unit, which is connected to the two-way valve and the circulation pump to control a passage channel of the two-way valve to be in an open state or a closed state and also to control a flow rate of the circulation pump.   
     
     
         2 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising an external circulation pipe, the external circulation pipe having two ends that are respectively connected to the hot-water pipe and the internal circulation pipe to selectively switch to an external-circulation-pipe flow line to realize external circulation, such that a control system formed of the two-way valve and the control unit is operable to switch a flow line between the internal circulation pipe and the external circulation pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat source supply structure comprises an air blower, a burner, and heat exchange pipe, wherein the air blower supplies a fuel gas and air to the burner for burning to generate heat, combusted gas generated in the burner and entering the heat exchange pipe to allow the heat exchange pipe to heat the cold water contained in the storage space. 
     
     
         4 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a temperature sensor is mounted to the internal circulation pipe between the two-way valve and the circulation pump, and the temperature sensor is connected to the control unit, so that a water temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is transmitted to the control unit to allow the control unit to control and regulate a flow rate generated by the circulation pump or to control and regulate a heating value provided by the heat source supply structure. 
     
     
         5 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a controller including a control circuit board that enables setting of parameters and instructions for controlling the two-way valve and the circulation pump. 
     
     
         6 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection of the cold-water pipe to the heat exchanger comprises a water inlet connector installed at the first position to ease mounting and assembling and replacement of the cold-water pipe; the connection of the hot-water pipe to the heat exchanger comprises a hot-water connector installed at the second position to ease mounting and assembling and replacement of the hot-water pipe; and the connection of the internal circulation pipe to the storage space comprises a circulation connector installed at a connection site thereof to ease mounting and assembling and replacement of the internal circulation pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat source supply structure comprises an air blower, a burner, and heat exchange pipe, wherein the air blower supplies a fuel gas and air to the burner for burning to generate heat, combusted gas generated in the burner and entering the heat exchange pipe to allow the heat exchange pipe to heat the cold water contained in the storage space. 
     
     
         8 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein a temperature sensor is mounted to the internal circulation pipe between the two-way valve and the circulation pump, and the temperature sensor is connected to the control unit, so that a water temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is transmitted to the control unit to allow the control unit to control and regulate a flow rate generated by the circulation pump or to control and regulate a heating value provided by the heat source supply structure. 
     
     
         9 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit comprises a controller including a control circuit board that enables setting of parameters and instructions for controlling the two-way valve and the circulation pump. 
     
     
         10 . The smart circulation control instantaneous-heating storage heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the connection of the cold-water pipe to the heat exchanger comprises a water inlet connector installed at the first position to ease mounting and assembling and replacement of the cold-water pipe; the connection of the hot-water pipe to the heat exchanger comprises a hot-water connector installed at the second position to ease mounting and assembling and replacement of the hot-water pipe; and the connection of the internal circulation pipe to the storage space comprises a circulation connector installed at a connection site thereof to ease mounting and assembling and replacement of the internal circulation pipe.