US 12,031,729 B2
Apparatus and method for supplying hot water
Chang Heoi Heo, Seoul (KR); and Yong Min Song, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to Kyungdong Navien Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Appl. No. 17/414,561
Filed by KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
PCT Filed Nov. 7, 2019, PCT No. PCT/KR2019/015099
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 16, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/141712, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2018-0173563 (KR), filed on Dec. 31, 2018; and application No. 10-2018-0173564 (KR), filed on Dec. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0010976 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. F24H 15/36 (2022.01); F24D 19/10 (2006.01); F24H 9/20 (2022.01); F24H 15/128 (2022.01); F24H 15/174 (2022.01); F24H 15/215 (2022.01); F24H 15/219 (2022.01); F24H 15/315 (2022.01); F24H 15/414 (2022.01); G05D 23/19 (2006.01); F24H 15/238 (2022.01); F24H 15/281 (2022.01)
CPC F24D 19/1006 (2013.01) [F24D 19/10 (2013.01); F24H 9/20 (2013.01); F24H 9/2007 (2013.01); F24H 15/128 (2022.01); F24H 15/174 (2022.01); F24H 15/215 (2022.01); F24H 15/219 (2022.01); F24H 15/315 (2022.01); F24H 15/36 (2022.01); F24H 15/414 (2022.01); G05D 23/1931 (2013.01); F24H 15/238 (2022.01); F24H 15/281 (2022.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hot-water supply apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
a burner connected to the at least one processor and configured to directly or indirectly provide heat required for generation of hot water to a heat exchanger configured to receive direct water through a direct-water inflow pipe, generate the hot water by heating the received direct water by heat exchange, and release the generated hot water through a hot-water supply pipe;
a mixing valve connected to the at least one processor and disposed in-line with a mixing pipe configured to connect the direct-water inflow pipe and the hot-water supply pipe, the mixing valve being configured to mix the direct water with the hot water flowing through the hot-water supply pipe after released from the heat exchanger; and
a memory connected to the at least one processor and configured to store instructions,
wherein hot water upstream of a connection point between the hot-water supply pipe and the mixing pipe is referred to as first hot water, and hot water downstream of the connection point is referred to as second hot water, and
wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:
obtain a reference temperature based on temperature of the direct water and required temperature of the second hot water, the reference temperature being temperature of the first hot water that allows the mixing valve to maintain a preset opening ratio;
control the burner such that the temperature of the first hot water released from the heat exchanger reaches the obtained reference temperature,
adjust the reference temperature to a second adjustment temperature based on the temperature of the direct water, the required temperature of the second hot water, and a predetermined opening ratio lower than the preset opening ratio, when an operating ratio of the burner required to reach the obtained reference temperature is above a preset second reference range;
adjust the reference temperature to the second adjustment temperature based on the temperature of the direct water, the required temperature of the second hot water, and a predetermined opening ratio higher than the preset opening ratio, when the operating ratio of the burner required to reach the obtained reference temperature is below the preset second reference range; and
control the burner such that the temperature of the first hot water reaches the adjusted second adjustment temperature.