HEAT STORAGE TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0202808, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 31, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a heat storage temperature management system.

BACKGROUND

A heat pump water heater operates in such a manner as to start a heat storage operation, if a water temperature in a tank of the water heater decreases to a certain temperature or less, and stop the heat storage operation, if the water temperature in the tank reaches a setting temperature.

However, if the water heater performs the heat storage operation up to the setting temperature in a time zone when a user uses less hot water, there occurs large energy loss due to heat radiation as a difference between the water temperature of the tank and an ambient temperature is large.

Furthermore, there are an electric heater, a heat pump, and the like as heat sources of the heat pump water heater. The electric heater is the heat source which has a faster heating rate than the heat pump, but has relatively smaller heating efficiency than the heat pump. In contrast, the heat pump is the heat source which has a small heating rate, but has relatively large heating efficiency. However, if the heat source of the heat pump water heater is the heat pump, a coefficient of performance is smaller as a water temperature in the tank of the water heater is larger. Thus, if the setting temperature of the heat pump water heater is set to be high to use hot water, energy loss increases as the coefficient of performance of the water heater decreases.

Thus, there is a need to develop a technology capable of calculating an appropriate heat storage temperature of the water heater, such that a user efficiently uses energy of the water heater if using hot water.

SUMMARY

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 heat storage temperature management system for identifying a plurality of time intervals as a time group based on the number of times a user uses hot water.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a heat storage temperature management system for calculating a target heat storage temperature of a water heater, which corresponds to a first time group, based on the number of times of using the hot water in a plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group.

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 heat storage temperature management system may include a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The one or more processors may identify the number of times a user uses hot water for each time interval for a plurality of time intervals, may identify a plurality of time intervals after a first time interval as a first time group based on the number of using the hot water during the first time interval, and may calculate a target heat storage temperature of a water heater, the target heat storage temperature corresponding to the first time group, based on the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals belonging to the first time group.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may determine a heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value as the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals belonging to the first time group is larger.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may determine a heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value in an operation mode that the water heater operates in high-performance mode than in an operation mode that the water heater operates in a general mode.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may determine a target hot water temperature of a second time group corresponding to a start point when a predetermined reference time elapses from the first time group as the target heat storage temperature.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may calculate a first adjustment value based on the target heat storage temperature and a heating rate of a heat source of the water heater and may determine the target hot water temperature as the target heat storage temperature at a start point subtracted from the start point of the second time group by the first adjustment value.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may calculate the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to each time interval based on flow rate information associated with using the hot water, the flow rate information being obtained from a flow rate sensor of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may calculate a first accumulated flow rate value obtained by adding hot water use flow rates in the first time group based on flow rate information associated with using the hot water, the flow rate information being obtained from a flow rate sensor of the water heater and may calculate the target heat storage temperature of the water heater for the first time group based on the calculated first accumulated flow rate value, a set target hot water temperature, and a tank capacity value of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may calculate the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to each time interval based on tank top temperature information of the water heater, tank bottom temperature information of the water heater, and information associated with a heat source operation of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may calculate a variance in first temperature being a tank top temperature value of the water heater and a variance in second temperature being a tank bottom temperature value of the water heater and may calculate the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to the time interval based on the calculated variances in first temperature and second temperature and the information associated with the heat source operation of the water heater.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a heat storage temperature management method may include identifying the number of times a user uses hot water for each time interval for a plurality of time intervals, identifying a plurality of time intervals after a first time interval as a first time group based on the number of using the hot water during the first time interval, and calculating a target heat storage temperature of a water heater, the target heat storage temperature corresponding to the first time group, based on the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals belonging to the first time group.

According to an embodiment, the calculating of the target heat storage temperature may include determining a heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value as the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals belonging to the first time group is larger.

According to an embodiment, the calculating of the target heat storage temperature may include determining a heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value in an operation mode that the water heater operates in a high-performance mode than in an operation mode that the water heater operates in a general mode.

According to an embodiment, the heat storage temperature management method may further include determining a target hot water temperature of a second time group corresponding to a start point when a predetermined reference time elapses from the first time group as the target heat storage temperature.

According to an embodiment, the determining of the target hot water temperature of the second time group corresponding to the start point when the predetermined reference time elapses from the first time group as the target heat storage temperature may include calculating a first adjustment value based on the target heat storage temperature and a heating rate of a heat source of the water heater and determining the target hot water temperature as the target heat storage temperature at a start point subtracted from the start point of the second time group by the first adjustment value.

According to an embodiment, the identifying of the number of times the user uses the hot water for each time interval for the plurality of time intervals may include calculating the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to each time interval based on flow rate information associated with using the hot water, the flow rate information being obtained from a flow rate sensor of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the calculating of the target heat storage temperature may include calculating a first accumulated flow rate value obtained by adding hot water use flow rates in the first time group based on flow rate information associated with using the hot water, the flow rate information being obtained from a flow rate sensor of the water heater and calculating the target heat storage temperature of the water heater for the first time group based on the calculated first accumulated flow rate value, a set target hot water temperature, and a tank capacity value of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the identifying of the number of times the user uses the hot water for each time interval for the plurality of time intervals may include calculating the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to each time interval based on tank top temperature information of the water heater, tank bottom temperature information of the water heater, and information associated with a heat source operation of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the identifying of the number of times the user uses the hot water for each time interval for the plurality of time intervals may further include calculating a variance in first temperature being a tank top temperature value of the water heater and a variance in second temperature being a tank bottom temperature value of the water heater and calculating the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to the time interval based on the calculated variances in first temperature and second temperature and the information associated with the heat source operation of the water heater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a heat storage temperature management system according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating the appearance of calculating the number of times a user uses hot water every a plurality of time intervals, a first time interval, a first time group, and a target heat storage temperature of the first time group according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a tank of a water heater according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a heat storage temperature management method according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a computing system for executing a heat storage temperature management system according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the disclosure to specific implementation forms and includes various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of embodiments of the disclosure.

It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technological features set forth herein to particular embodiments and include various changes, equivalents, or replacements for a corresponding embodiment. With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It is to be understood that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, each of the expressions “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include any and all combinations of one or more of the items listed together with a corresponding expression among the expressions. Such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second”, or “A”, “B”, “(a)”, or “(b)” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance or order).

In the present disclosure, it is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first component) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second component), it means that the element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third component.

According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) online via an application store (e.g., PlayStore™), or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly. If distributed online, at least part of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such as memory of the manufacturer's server, a server of the application store, or a relay server.

According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include a singular entity or a plurality of entities and some of the plurality of entities may be separated arranged in another component. According to various embodiments, one or more of the above-described components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each component of the plurality of components in the manner same as or similar to being performed by the corresponding component of the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by the module, the program, or another component may be carried out sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a heat storage temperature management system 100 according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating the appearance of calculating the number of times a user uses hot water every a plurality of time intervals, a first time interval 21, a first time group 20, and a target heat storage temperature of the first time group 20 according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a tank 300 of a water heater according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure. The heat storage temperature management system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

First of all, referring to FIG. 1, the heat storage temperature management system 100 may include a memory 110 and one or more processors 120. However, it is not limited thereto and another component may be further included in the heat storage temperature management system 100. Two or more components may be integrated into one or one component may be divided into two or more components.

According to an embodiment, the memory 110 may store all pieces of information generated by the processor 120 of the heat storage temperature management system 100 or all pieces of information received by the heat storage temperature management system 100. According to an embodiment, the memory 110 may store at least one of target heat storage temperature information or the number of times information a user uses a hot water. According to an embodiment, the memory 110 may be plural in number if necessary. According to an embodiment, the memory 110 may be a volatile memory and may be a non-volatile memory. According to an embodiment, a random-access memory (RAM), a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), or the like may be used as the memory 110 as the volatile memory. According to an embodiment, a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an electrically alterable ROM (EAROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a flash memory, or the like may be used as the memory 110 as the non-volatile memory. Examples of the listed memories 110 are only illustrative, but not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine whether a user uses hot water for each time interval for a plurality of time intervals. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may identify the number of times the user uses hot water for each time interval for the plurality of time intervals. For example, the one or more processors 120 may identify the number of times the user uses the hot water in the first time interval 21 among a plurality of time intervals, based on information about whether the user uses the hot water from a start point of the first time interval 21 to an end point of the first time interval 21.

According to an embodiment, a length of a time interval, which is a difference between a start point and an end point of the time interval, may be, but is not limited to, 10 minutes. According to an embodiment, the plurality of time intervals may refer to time intervals in which a reference duration is divided for each length of a predetermined time interval. According to an embodiment, the reference duration may be one of one week (i.e., 7 days) or one day (i.e., 24 hours). For example, if the reference duration is the one day, it may be divided every 10 minutes which are the length of the time interval and may be divided into a total of 144 plural time intervals. For example, if the reference duration is the one week, it may be divided every 10 minutes which are the length of the time interval and may be divided into a total of 1008 plural time intervals.

According to an embodiment, a water heater may include a flow rate sensor capable of sensing use of hot water. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the number of times of using hot water corresponding to each time interval based on flow rate information associated with using the hot water, which is obtained from the flow rate sensor of the water heater. According to an embodiment, the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to each time interval may refer to the number of times of using the hot water from a start point of each time interval and an end point of each time interval.

According to an embodiment, the flow rate sensor of the water heater may sense a flow rate of the hot water. If a flow rate of the hot water, which is greater than a predetermined value, is sensed from the flow rate sensor, the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water starts. If a flow rate of the hot water, which is less than or equal to the predetermined value, is sensed from the flow rate sensor, the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water ends.

According to an embodiment, if it is determined that the use of the hot water starts, the one or more processors 120 may increase the number of times of using the hot water by “1”. If it is determined that the use of the hot water starts again after it is determined that the use of the hot water ends, the one or more processors 120 may increase the number of times of using the hot water by “1” again.

Referring to FIG. 2, if it is determined that the use of hot water starts in the first time interval 21, the one or more processors 120 may increase the number of times of using the hot water from “0” to “1”. If it is determined that the use of the hot water starts again after it is determined that the use of the hot water ends in the first time interval 21, the one or more processors 120 may increase the number of times of using the hot water from “1” to “2” again. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, if it is determined that the use of the hot water starts again after it is determined that the use of the hot water ends in the first time interval 21, the one or more processors 120 may increase the number of times of using the hot water from “2” to “3” again.

Referring to FIG. 3, the water heater may include a tank 300 including one or more heat sources. Meanwhile, a temperature of the tank 300 of the water heater may decrease over time due to heat radiation and may increase over time depending on an operation of the heat source.

According to an embodiment, the heat source of the tank 300 may include a top heater 311, a bottom heater 321, and a heat pump (not shown). Herein, the top heater 311 may heat hot water in the top of the tank 300 and the bottom heater 321 may the heat hot water in the bottom of the tank 300.

According to an embodiment, a temperature sensor of the tank 300 may include a tank top temperature sensor 310 and a tank bottom temperature sensor 320. Herein, the tank top temperature sensor 310 may measure a top temperature of the tank 300, which is heated by the top heater 311, and the tank bottom temperature sensor 320 may measure a bottom temperature of the tank 300, which is heated by the bottom heater 321.

According to an embodiment, the heat source of the water heater may perform any one of operations in which the top heater 311 is turned on or off, any one of operations in which the bottom heater 321 is turned on or off, or any one of operations in which the heat pump is turned on or off.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to each time interval based on the top temperature information of the tank 300 of the water heater, the bottom temperature information of the tank 300, and information associated with the operation of the heat source of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate a variance in first temperature, which is a top temperature value of the tank 300 of the water heater. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may subtract the first temperature before a predetermined time elapses from the first temperature after the predetermined time elapses to calculate the variance in first temperature. According to an embodiment, the predetermined time may be differently set according to the operation of the heat source. For example, the predetermined time may be, but is not limited to, 1 minute.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate a variance in second temperature, which is a bottom temperature value of the tank 300 of the water heater. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may subtract the second temperature before the predetermined time elapses from the second temperature after the predetermined time elapses to calculate the variance in second temperature. According to an embodiment, the predetermined time may be differently set according to the operation of the heat source. For example, the predetermined time when the heat pump is turned on may be 5 minutes. Otherwise, the predetermined time may be 1 minute.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the number of times of using the hot water corresponding to the time interval based on the calculated variances in first temperature and second temperature and heat source presence/absence information of the water heater. According to an embodiment, if the variance(s) in first temperature and/or second temperature is/are less than the predetermined value, the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of hot water starts. The predetermined value may be, but is not limited to, 0.3° C., and may be differently set according to the operation of the heat source. According to an embodiment, if the variance(s) in first temperature and/or second temperature is/are greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of hot water ends. The predetermined value may be, but is not limited to, 0.3° C., and may be differently set according to the operation of the heat source.

According to an embodiment, if the top heater 311 is turned on and the variance in first temperature is less than 0.3° C., the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water starts. According to an embodiment, if the bottom heater 321 is turned on and the variance in second temperature is less than 0.3° C., the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water starts. According to an embodiment, if the heat pump is turned on and the variance in second temperature is less than 0.3° C., the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water starts. If all the top heater 311, the bottom heater 321, and the heat pump are turned off and the variance in first temperature or the variance in second temperature is less than −0.2° C., the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water starts.

According to an embodiment, if the top heater 311 is turned on and the variance in first temperature is greater than or equal to 0.3° C., the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water ends. If the bottom heater 321 is turned on and the variance in second temperature is greater than or equal to 0.3° C., the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water ends. If the heat pump is turned on and the variance in second temperature for 5 minutes is greater than or equal to 0.3° C., the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water ends. If all the top heater 311, the bottom heater 321, and the heat pump are turned off and the variance in first temperature or the variance in second temperature is greater than or equal to −0.2° C., the one or more processors 120 may determine that the use of the hot water ends.

Referring again to FIG. 2, according to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine the first time interval 21 based on the number of times of using the hot water, which is identified for each time interval among the plurality of time intervals. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine an interval with the earliest start point among the time intervals in which the number of times of using the hot water is identified as being greater than or equal to “1” as the first time interval 21.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may identify a plurality of time intervals after the first time interval 21 as a first time group 20 based on the number of times of using the hot water during the first time interval 21. According to an embodiment, if the number of times of using the hot water during the first time interval 21 is greater than or equal to a reference number of times, the one or more processors 120 may identify the plurality of time intervals after the first time interval 21 as the first time group 20. The reference number of times may be, but is not limited to, “1”. According to an embodiment, the plurality of time intervals capable of being identified as the first time group 20 may include the first time interval 21 and the number of the plurality of time intervals capable of being identified as the first time group 20 may be, but is not limited to, 6.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may identify the number of times the user uses the hot water for each time interval for the plurality of time intervals and may determine a fifth time interval which is the earliest time interval with a start point T1 among time groups in which the number of times of using the hot water is identified as being greater than or equal to “1” as the first time interval 21. One or more processors 120 may identify the plurality of time intervals (e.g., 5th to 10th time intervals) with the start point T1 and an end point T2 after the first time interval 21 as the first time group 20.

According to an embodiment, a target heat storage temperature corresponding to the first time group 20 may refer to a target heat storage temperature in a time corresponding to the first time group 20. For example, the start point T1 of the first time group 20 may be 0 hours 40 minutes and the end point T2 of the first time group 20 may be 1 hour 40 minutes. The time corresponding to the first time group 20 may refer to a time from 0 hours 40 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate a target heat storage temperature of the water heater, which corresponds to the first time group 20. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the target heat storage temperature of the water heater, which corresponds to the first time group 20, based on the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group 20.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate a target heat storage temperature Y (unit: ° C.) of the water heater, which corresponds to the first time group 20, depending on Equation 1 below.

Y = a * ( X - 40 ) / 2 [ Equation ⁢ 1 ]

In Equation 1 above, the set target hot water temperature is X (unit: ° C.) and the constant value determined based on the number of times of using hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group 20 is a. According to an embodiment, a may have a larger value as the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group 20 is larger.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine a heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water depending on the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group 20. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value as the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group 20 is larger. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the number of time intervals in which the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group 20 is not “0”. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may divide the first time group 20 depending on the number of the time intervals in which the number of times of using the hot water is not “0”, may divide the number of the time intervals in which the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group 20 is not “0” into 0, 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5, and may determine a heat storage degree such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value as it is divided that the number of the time intervals in which it is not “0” is larger.

According to an embodiment, an operation mode of the water heater may include a high-performance mode or a general mode. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine a heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value if the operation mode of the water heater is the high-performance mode than if the operation mode of the water heater is the general mode. According to an embodiment, a in Equation 1 above may have a larger value if the operation mode of the water heater is the high-performance mode than if the operation mode of the water heater is the general mode.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine a target hot water temperature of a second time group corresponding to a start point when a predetermined reference time elapses from the first time group 20 as the target heat storage temperature. For example, the predetermined reference time may be, but is not limited to, 7 days. According to an embodiment, the memory 110 may further store information about the target heat storage temperature of the water heater, which corresponds to the first time group 20, and the heat storage degree.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine the target hot water temperature of the second time group corresponding to a start point when 7 days elapse, which is the start point when the predetermined reference time elapses from the first time group 20, as the previously calculated target heat storage temperature. For example, if the target heat storage temperature from the start point T1 (Monday, December 10th, 12:40 AM) of the first time group 20 to the end point T2 (Monday, December 10th, 1:40 AM) is calculated as 45° C., the one or more processors 120 may calculate a target hot water temperature from a start point (Monday, December 17th, 12:40 AM) of the second time group when one week elapses to an end point (Monday, December 17th, 1:40 AM) as the previously calculated target heat storage temperature, 45° C.

The one or more processors 120 may determine the target hot water temperature of the second time group as the previously calculated target heat storage temperature, based on a usage pattern of the user, to reduce unnecessary energy consumption and facilitate supplying hot water optimized for a repeated usage pattern of the user, thus improving user convenience at the same time as saving energy.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate a first adjustment value based on the target heat storage temperature and a heating rate of the heat source of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the first adjustment value T (unit: second) based on Equation 2 below.

T = ( Y - 40 ) / S [ Equation ⁢ 2 ]

In Equation 2 above, the target heat storage temperature is Y (unit: ° C.) and the constant value determined by the heating rate of the heat source is S (unit: ° C./second).

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine a target hot water temperature as the target heat storage temperature at a start point subtracted from the start point of the second time group by the first adjustment value. According to Equation 2 above, the first adjustment value T has a larger value as the target heat storage temperature is larger and has a larger value as the heating rate of the heat source is smaller.

The one or more processors 120 may determine the target hot water temperature as the target heat storage temperature earlier from the start point of the second time group by the first adjustment value T such that the user immediately uses the hot water without the necessity of waiting for a time when the heat source is heated up to the target hot water temperature when using the hot water, thus greatly improving user convenience.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate a first accumulated flow rate value obtained by adding hot water use flow rates in the first time group 20 based on flow rate information associated with using the hot water, which is obtained from the flow rate sensor of the water heater. According to an embodiment, the hot water use flow rates in the first time group 20 may refer to adding hot water use flow rates obtained from the flow rate sensor from the start point T of the first time group 20 to the end point T2 of the first time group 20.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the target heat storage temperature of the water heater for the first time group 20 based on the first accumulated flow rate value, the set target hot water temperature, and a capacity value of the tank 300 of the water heater.

According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate a target heat storage temperature Y based on Equation 3 below.

Y = X * Q V + 2 ⁢ 0 ⁢ ( 1 - Q V ) - C [ Equation ⁢ 3 ]

In Equation 3 above, the target heat storage temperature may be Y (unit: ° C.), the target hot water temperature may be X (unit: ° C.), the first accumulated flow rate value may be Q (unit: liter), the capacity value of the tank 300 may be V (unit: liter), C may be the constant determined according to the operation mode of the water heater, and C may be 0 in the high-performance mode and may be 2 in the general mode.

The one or more processors 120 may calculate the target heat storage temperature of the water heater for the first time group 20 based on the first accumulated flow rate value, the set target hot water temperature, and the capacity value of the tank of the water heater to realize energy management optimized for actual hot water usage of the user, may facilitate a precise target heat storage temperature setting based on the first accumulated flow rate value, and may effectively heat the hot water by only a necessary amount of the hot water to supply the hot water stably and in a timely manner.

Although the description of the apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is omitted, the apparatus according to the other embodiment of the present disclosure may include all contents described in the method of FIGS. 1 to 3. This is obvious to those skilled in the technical field of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a heat storage temperature management method according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, a heat storage temperature management system 100 may identify the number of times a user uses hot water for each time interval for a plurality of time intervals in S101, may identify a plurality of time intervals after a first time interval as a first time group based on the number of times of using the hot water during the first time interval in S102, may calculate a target heat storage temperature of a water heater, which corresponds to the first time group, based on the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group in S103, may determine a target hot water temperature of a second time group corresponding to a start point when a predetermined reference time elapses from the first time group as the target heat storage temperature, may calculate a first adjustment value based on the target heat storage temperature and a heating rate of a heat source of a water heater, and may determine the target hot water temperature as the target heat storage temperature at a start point subtracted from the start point of the second time group by the first adjustment value.

In S101, the one or more processors 120 may identify the number of times the user uses the hot water for each time interval for the plurality of time intervals.

In S102, the one or more processors 120 may identify the plurality of time intervals after the first time interval as the first time group based on the number of times of using the hot water during the first time interval.

In S103, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the target heat storage temperature of the water heater, which corresponds to the first time group, based on the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine a heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value as the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group 20 is larger. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may determine the heat storage degree according to the number of times of using the hot water such that the target heat storage temperature has a larger value in an operation mode that the water heater operates a high-performance mode than in an operation mode that the water heater operates in a general mode.

The one or more processors 120 may determine the target hot water temperature of the second time group corresponding to the start point when the predetermined reference time elapses from the first time group as the target heat storage temperature. According to an embodiment, the one or more processors 120 may calculate the first adjustment value based on the target heat storage temperature and the heating rate of the heat source of the water heater and may determine the target hot water temperature as the target heat storage temperature at the start point subtracted from the start point of the second time group by the first adjustment value.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a computing system for executing a heat storage temperature management system according to an embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, the above-mentioned heat storage temperature management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented via a computing system. A computing system 1000 may include at least one processor 1100, a memory 1300, a user interface input device 1400, a user interface output device 1500, storage 1600, and a network interface 1700, which are connected with each other via a system bus 1200.

The processor 1100 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a semiconductor device that processes instructions stored in the memory 1300 and/or the storage 1600. The memory 1300 and the storage 1600 may include various types of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, the memory 1300 may include a read only memory (ROM) 1310 and a random access memory (RAM) 1320.

Accordingly, the operations of the method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed in the specification may be directly implemented with a hardware module, a software module, or a combination of the hardware module and the software module, which is executed by the processor 1100. The software module may reside on a storage medium (i.e., the memory 1300 and/or the storage 1600) such as a RAM, a flash memory, a ROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a register, a hard disc, a removable disk, and a CD-ROM. The exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the processor 1100. The processor 1100 may read out information from the storage medium and may write information in the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integrated with the processor 1100. The processor 1100 and the storage medium may reside in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside within a user terminal. In another case, the processor 1100 and the storage medium may reside in the user terminal as separate components.

The heat storage temperature management system disclosed in the present disclosure may identify the number of times a user uses hot water for each time interval for a plurality of time intervals.

The heat storage temperature management system disclosed in the present disclosure may identify a plurality of time intervals after a first time interval as a first time group based on the number of times of using the hot water during the first time interval.

The heat storage temperature management system disclosed in the present disclosure may calculate a target heat storage temperature of a water heater, which corresponds to the first time group, based on the number of times of using the hot water in the plurality of time intervals which belong to the first time group.

In addition, various effects ascertained directly or indirectly through the present disclosure may be provided.

Hereinabove, although the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, but may be variously modified and altered by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure claimed in the following claims. Therefore, embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by such an embodiment. The scope of the present disclosure should be construed on the basis of the accompanying claims, and all the technical ideas within the scope equivalent to the claims should be included in the scope of the present disclosure.