This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202422452921.3 titled "ENERGY STORAGE TANK AND ELECTRIC WATER HEATER" on October 10, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to the field of electric water heater technologies, and more particularly, to an energy storage tank and an electric water heater.

As household appliances, electric water heaters are closely related to people's lives. When a temperature of water in the electric water heater is higher than an ambient temperature, steam may be generated inside the electric water heater. If such steam always exists in an inner cavity of the electric water heater, a gas pressure in the inner cavity of the electric water heater will increase, resulting in potential safety hazards. Therefore, the steam in the inner cavity of the electric water heater needs to be discharged. If the discharged steam comes into contact with a user, a risk of scalding the user may exist.

The present disclosure aims to solve at least one of the technical problems in the related art. To this end, the present disclosure provides an energy storage tank and an electric water heater, which can discharge gas in an inner cavity and prevent scalding a user.

According to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present disclosure, an energy storage tank comprises a water tank and an exhaust passage. The water tank has an enclosed inner cavity, and the inner cavity is configured to store energy storage fluid. The water tank has a front surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface. The exhaust passage has a gas inlet and a gas outlet that are provided at two opposite ends of the exhaust passage respectively. The gas inlet is located inside the water tank and is in communication with the inner cavity. The gas inlet is located at a level higher than a liquid level of the energy storage fluid. The gas outlet extends towards the back surface and is in communication with an atmosphere.

According to the energy storage tank of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the exhaust passage is inserted into the inner cavity. The inner cavity is in communication with the atmosphere via the exhaust passage in such a manner that gas in the inner cavity can be discharged to the atmosphere along the exhaust passage. Also, the exhaust passage is bent towards the back surface in such a manner that the gas outlet faces towards the back surface to avoid safety accidents caused by the gas discharged from the front surface.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water tank has a first mounting hole formed on a bottom of the water tank, and the first mounting hole is in communication with the inner cavity. The exhaust passage comprises an exhaust pipe disposed at the inner cavity, and a bottom end of the exhaust pipe passes through the first mounting hole. The gas inlet is in communication with to a top end of the exhaust pipe, and the gas outlet is in communication with the bottom end of the exhaust pipe.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy storage tank further comprises a cover covering the first mounting hole and the exhaust pipe at a bottom surface.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover comprises a main body portion for covering at a bottom surface of the water tank, and an extension portion for covering at the back surface of the water tank. The extension portion has an exhaust hole. The gas outlet is in communication with the atmosphere via the exhaust hole.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover has a discharging opening formed on the cover. The gas outlet is in communication with the discharging opening. The discharging opening is configured to discharge the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy storage tank further comprises a plug connected between the exhaust passage and the water tank. The plug is configured to seal the water tank.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water tank has a second mounting hole formed on the back surface of the water tank, and the second mounting hole is in communication with the inner cavity. The exhaust passage extends through the second mounting hole and is at least partially located at the inner cavity. The exhaust passage has a tubular body inserted into the inner cavity and extending towards a top of the water tank; or the second mounting hole is formed at a level higher than the liquid level of the energy storage fluid.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water tank has a third mounting hole formed on a top of the water tank, and the third mounting hole is in communication with the inner cavity. The exhaust passage extends through the third mounting hole and is at least partially located at the inner cavity. The exhaust passage has a tubular body located outside the inner cavity and extending towards the back surface.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an end of the exhaust passage extending towards a top of the water tank serves as the gas inlet, and the gas inlet is spaced apart from the top of the water tank.

According to an embodiment of a second aspect of the present disclosure, an electric water heater comprises a housing, a mounting support, and the energy storage tank as described above. The energy storage tank is disposed within the housing. The mounting support is connected to the housing and is configured to mount the energy storage tank. The mounting support is connected to a side where the back surface is located.

The above one or more technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure have at least one of the following technical effects. The inner cavity is in communication with the atmosphere via the exhaust passage in such a manner that when the gas pressure in the inner cavity increases, the gas in the inner cavity can be discharged, enabling the gas pressure in the inner cavity to be consistent with an atmospheric pressure, and ensuring the gas pressure in the inner cavity to be stable. In addition, since the gas in the inner cavity is discharged in a direction away from the front surface, the discharged gas is prevented from scalding the user. Therefore, use safety is improved.

Further, a discharging opening is formed on a sealing plate. In this way, when the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity overflows, the overflowed energy storage fluid can flow to the discharging opening along the exhaust passage and flow out through the discharging opening, ensuring that no liquid accumulation occurs inside the energy storage tank.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be provided at least in part in the following description, or will become apparent at least in part from the following description, or can be learned from practicing of the present disclosure.

In order to clearly explain technical solutions according to embodiments of the present disclosure or in the related art, drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the related art are briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings as described below are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on these drawings, other drawings can be obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort.

• FIG. 1 is a first sectional view of an energy storage tank provided in the present disclosure.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an electric water heater illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a second sectional view of an energy storage tank provided in the present disclosure.
• FIG. 4 is a third sectional view of an energy storage tank provided in the present disclosure.

Reference numerals of the accompanying drawing:
1: water tank, 11: inner cavity, 12: front surface, 13: back surface, 14: first mounting hole, 15: second mounting hole, 16: third mounting hole; 2: exhaust passage, 21: gas inlet, 22: gas outlet, 23: exhaust pipe; 3: mounting support; 4: plug; 5: sealing plate, 51: main body portion, 52: extension portion, 53: exhaust hole, 54: discharging opening; 8: liquid level sensor; 9: housing.

The present disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments described below are only used to explain, rather than limiting, the present disclosure.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that the orientation or the position indicated by terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "over", "below", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" should be construed to refer to the orientation or the position as shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the pointed device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present disclosure. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, terms such as "connect", "connect to", and the like should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection or a detachable connection or connection as one piece; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above-described terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be understood according to specific circumstances.

In the present disclosure, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate. Moreover, the first feature "above" the second feature means that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the level of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature "below" the second feature means that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the level of the first feature is smaller than that of the second feature.

In the description of the present disclosure, reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment", "some embodiments", "an example", "a specific example", or "some examples" means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is comprised in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. In this specification, exemplary descriptions of above terms are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example. Further, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, different embodiments or examples and the features of different embodiments or examples described in the specification may be combined and integrated by those skilled in the art without mutual contradiction.

An energy storage tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present disclosure, the energy storage tank comprises: a water tank 1 configured to store energy storage fluid. In order to prevent the energy storage fluid stored in the energy storage tank from leaking, the water tank 1 has a closed inner cavity 11. Since the energy storage fluid is contained in the inner cavity 11, steam may be generated when the energy storage tank is in operation, which increases a gas pressure in the inner cavity 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an exhaust passage 2 is provided in this embodiment. A nozzle of the exhaust passage 2 in the inner cavity 11 is a gas inlet 21, and a nozzle of the exhaust passage 2 opposite to the gas inlet 21 is a gas outlet 22. The gas inlet 21 is located at a level higher than a liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11, to prevent the energy storage fluid from leaking through the exhaust passage 2.

When the exhaust passage 2 is partially located at the inner cavity 11, the exhaust passage is in communication with air in the inner cavity 11 via the gas inlet 21, while the gas outlet 22 is in communication with an atmosphere. Thus, the gas pressure in the inner cavity 11 can be kept consistent with an atmospheric pressure through the exhaust passage 2. Therefore, when the energy storage tank is in operation or under pressure, a high-pressure gas in the inner cavity 11 can be discharged to the atmosphere through the exhaust passage 2, achieving an effect of reducing the gas pressure in the inner cavity 11. In this way, the gas pressure in the inner cavity 11 is consistent with the atmospheric pressure, and the gas pressure in the inner cavity 11 is ensured to be stable.

When the energy storage tank is in operation, high-temperature steam may be generated in the inner cavity 11. If the high-temperature steam is discharged at an incorrect position through the exhaust passage 2, a risk of scalding a user may exist. In this embodiment, the high-temperature steam in the inner cavity 11 is discharged through the exhaust passage 2, in such a manner that the gas outlet 22 and a back surface 13 are located at a same side. After a high-temperature and high-pressure gas in the inner cavity 11 enters the exhaust passage 2 along the gas inlet 21, when discharged from the gas outlet 22, under guidance of the gas outlet 22, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is discharged towards the back surface 13, that is, discharged backward. Since a front surface 12 is usually opposite to the user, and the back surface 13 is usually opposite to an apparatus at which the water tank 1 is mounted, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is discharged backward through the exhaust passage 2, which can effectively avoid potential safety hazards generated when discharging directly to the user.

In FIG. 1, by forming a first mounting hole 14 on a bottom of the water tank 1, the exhaust passage 2 is mounted in the inner cavity 11 through the first mounting hole 14, and the first mounting hole 14 is closed to prevent the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 from flowing out of the first mounting hole 14. Of course, a specific mounting method of the exhaust passage 2 is not limited herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the energy storage tank further comprises a sealing plate 5. Since the exhaust passage 2 extends outward from the bottom of the water tank 1 to the back surface 13, this tubular segment is exposed and is likely to be damaged. Also, integrity and aesthetics of the water tank 1 are affected. Therefore, in this embodiment, an exposed part of the exhaust passage 2 is covered at a bottom surface by the sealing plate 5 to protect the exhaust passage 2, and the entire water tank 1 can be more aesthetic and consistent. In addition, the sealing plate 5 covers the water tank 1 and is mutually sealed with the water tank 1.

In this embodiment, the exhaust passage 2 comprises an exhaust pipe 23 disposed at the inner cavity 11 and a passage disposed outside the inner cavity 11. A top end of the exhaust pipe 23 serves as the gas inlet 21, so the top end of the exhaust pipe 23 is located at a level higher than the liquid level. The passage of the exhaust passage 2 disposed outside the inner cavity 11 is composed of a cover 5 and an outer surface of the water tank 1. Since the cover 5 covers the first mounting hole 14, the gas discharged from the exhaust pipe 23 flows towards the cover 5 and is discharged through the passage of the exhaust passage 2 disposed outside the inner cavity 11.

In different embodiments, the exhaust passage 2 may also be completely composed of the exhaust pipe 23. In this way, a part of the exhaust pipe 23 located outside the inner cavity 11 may be bent towards a side where the back surface 13 is located.

Further, the sealing plate 5 comprises a main body portion 51 and an extension portion 52. The main body portion 51 provides covering at a bottom surface of the water tank 1. The extension portion 52 provides covering at the back surface of the water tank 1. Since the exposed part of the exhaust passage 2 is covered by the sealing plate 5, the gas discharged from the gas outlet 21 is enclosed in a space enclosed by the water tank 1 and the sealing plate 5. Therefore, the sealing plate 5 needs to have an exhaust hole 53, to enable the gas in the sealing plate 5 to be discharged. Since the high-temperature and high-pressure gas needs to be discharged backward, in this embodiment, the exhaust hole 53 is formed at the extension portion 52. Therefore, the passage disposed outside the inner cavity 11 does not require a pipe and can discharge through the exhaust hole 53. Thus, in this embodiment, the gas outlet 22 only needs to be provided at a bottom end of the exhaust pipe 23, with no need for further extension.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the gas in the inner cavity 11 enters the exhaust passage 2 from the gas inlet 21, flows into an inside of the sealing plate 5 from the gas outlet 22, and can only be discharged backward from the exhaust hole 53. Therefore, the exhaust passage 2 no longer needs to extend outward from the first mounting hole 14, and does not need to be guided through the exhaust passage 2. After the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is discharged into the sealing plate 5 through the gas outlet 22, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas can be discharged backward under a guiding action of the exhaust hole 53, achieving an effect of shortening a length of the exhaust passage 2 and saving resources.

When the gas in the inner cavity 11 is discharged along the gas inlet 21, the gas is discharged through the gas outlet 22. The gas discharged from the gas outlet 22 is discharged backward under a guiding action of the exhaust passage 2 or under a guiding action of the sealing plate 5, which improves safety of the energy storage tank.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the cover 5 has a discharging opening 54 formed on the cover 5. The discharging opening 54 is in communication with the gas outlet 22. Preferably, the discharging opening 54 is located at a lowest position of the cover 5 to ensure that the energy storage fluid can flow to the discharging opening 54 under an action of gravity and flow out through the discharging opening 54. Since the discharging opening 54 is in communication with the atmosphere, the gas flowing out from the gas outlet 22 may also flow to the atmosphere through the discharging opening 54, which may change a discharge direction of the gas in the inner cavity 11. Therefore, the discharging opening 54 needs to be sealed, and a sealing member used to seal the discharging opening 54 is removably connected to the discharging opening 54. In the event that no energy storage fluid overflows, the discharging opening 54 is sealed by the sealing member. When the energy storage tank is subjected to shaking, vibration or other factors, causing the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 to move violently and overflow along the gas inlet 21, the sealing member is removed from the discharging opening 54 after the high-temperature and high-pressure gas in the inner cavity 11 is completely discharged, allowing the overflowed energy storage fluid to be discharged.

In this embodiment, by forming the discharging opening 54 on the cover 5, when the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 overflows, the overflowed energy storage fluid can flow to the discharging opening 54 along the exhaust pipe 23 and flow out through the discharging opening 54, ensuring that no liquid accumulation occurs inside the energy storage tank.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, which shows another form of energy storage tank, in this embodiment, the water tank 1 has a second mounting hole 15 formed on the back surface 13 of the water tank 1. In this way, in this embodiment, the exhaust passage 2 is inserted into the inner cavity 11 from the second mounting hole 15. Since most of the inner cavity 11 is occupied by the energy storage fluid and only a minor part is occupied by the gas, and since density of the gas is smaller than density of the liquid, the liquid is located at a lower part (in a gravity direction) of the inner cavity 11 and the gas is located at an upper part of the inner cavity 11.

Therefore, the second mounting hole 15 is formed at a position slightly above the back surface 13. After the exhaust passage 2 is inserted into the inner cavity 11 from the second mounting hole 15, the second mounting hole 15 also needs to be sealed to prevent the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 from leaking through the second mounting hole 15. Since in this embodiment the second mounting hole 15 is formed at a position lower than the liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11, after the exhaust passage 2 is inserted into the inner cavity 11 from the second mounting hole 15, the exhaust passage 2 needs to extend towards a top surface of the inner cavity 11, and the gas inlet 21 of the exhaust passage 2 needs to extend to a position above a liquid level sensor 8 to prevent the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 from leaking outward through the gas inlet 21. Preferably, in this embodiment, the exhaust passage 2 illustrated in FIG. 3 is in a bent state by 90°.

Further, after the gas inlet 21 extends to a position above the liquid level sensor 8, the gas inlet 21 also needs to be spaced apart from the water tank 1 at a top of the inner cavity 11 to ensure that a sufficient gap is left between the exhaust passage 11 and the water tank 1 at the top. When the energy storage tank is subject to pressure or the pressure in the inner cavity 11 decreases, the reserved gap can prevent extrusion or collision between the water tank 1 and the exhaust passage 2, providing protection for the exhaust passage 2 and the water tank 1.

In this embodiment, since the second mounting hole 15 is formed on the back surface 13, a tubular segment of the exhaust passage 2 located outside the inner cavity 11 no longer needs to be bent, which ensures that the gas outlet 22 is located at a side of the back surface 13 and that the gas outlet 22 discharges the gas backward.

Further, the exhaust passage 2 may also be a straight pipe without bending. When the second mounting hole 15 is formed at a position lower than the liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11, the exhaust passage 2 needs to be arranged obliquely. Since the second mounting hole 15 is located below the liquid level of the energy storage fluid, while the gas inlet 21 needs to be located at the level higher than the liquid level of the energy storage fluid, the gas outlet 22 may be located below the second mounting hole 15, resulting in the entire exhaust passage 2 being in an oblique state.

If the the second mounting hole 15 is arranged to be formed at a level higher than the liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11, the second mounting hole 15 is formed at a position above the back surface 13 and near the top of the inner cavity 11. At this time, after the exhaust passage is inserted into the inner cavity 11 from the second mounting hole 15, the exhaust passage 2 may first come into contact with the air in the inner cavity 11. In this case, the exhaust passage 2 does not need to be arranged obliquely, and it is sufficient to keep the exhaust passage 2 horizontally inserted into the second mounting hole 15. When the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 does not move violently, the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 may not leak from the exhaust passage 2.

Preferably, the exhaust passage 2 may also be arranged obliquely, and the gas outlet 22 is located at a level higher than the gas inlet 21. This arrangement facilitates exhaust and allows the gas to be discharged more smoothly. Because when placed horizontally, the gas inlet 21 is located at the level higher than the liquid level of the energy storage fluid, the gas inlet 21 may gradually approach the liquid level when the exhaust passage 2 is arranged obliquely. Therefore, in a process of arranging the exhaust passage 2 obliquely, the gas inlet 21 needs to located at a level higher than the liquid level of the energy storage fluid.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows an energy storage tank of a third embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the water tank 1 has a third mounting hole 16 formed on a top surface of the water tank 1. In this way, in this embodiment, the exhaust passage 2 is inserted into the inner cavity 11 from the third mounting hole 16. Since the exhaust passage 2 is inserted from the top of the inner cavity 11, the gas inlet 21 of the exhaust passage 2 does not need to extend into the inner cavity 11 to ensure that the gas inlet 21 is located above the liquid level of the energy storage fluid. However, the tubular segment of the exhaust passage 2 located outside the inner cavity 11 needs to be bent, and a bending direction extends towards the back surface 13, to ensure that the gas outlet 22 and the back surface 13 are at the same side.

The present disclosure further provides an electric water heater comprising a housing 9 and the energy storage tank as described above. The energy storage tank is disposed within the housing 9, and is protected by the housing 9. Further, a thermal insulation layer is further disposed between the energy storage tank and the housing 9. The thermal insulation layer wraps the entire energy storage tank to preserve heat of hot water in the energy storage tank.

It should be understood that, in the present disclosure, the energy storage tank is disposed within the housing 9. Therefore, the front surface 12 and the back surface 13 as described above correspond to a front surface and a back surface of the housing 9. The housing 9 also has an exhaust hole, and the exhaust passage needs to pass through the housing 9 and extend to the back surface. The electric water heater further comprises a mounting support 3. The mounting support 3 is configured to mount the energy storage tank and may be connected to a side of the back surface 13 of the water tank 1.

The energy storage tank in an embodiment of the present disclosure further comprises the liquid level sensor 8 mounted at an inner wall of the inner cavity 11. The liquid level sensor 8 is mounted at a highest position of the liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11, and the highest position of liquid level of the energy storage fluid shall be determined based on actual conditions. The liquid level sensor 8 is configured to monitor the liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11. When a height of the liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 exceeds the liquid level sensor 8, the liquid level sensor 8 triggers an alarm for notification. After hearing the alarm, operators or users can promptly stop operation of the energy storage tank and discharge the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11, enabling the height of the liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 to drop below the liquid level sensor 8.

In this embodiment, by monitoring the height of the liquid level of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 through the liquid level sensor 8, the height of the liquid level of the energy storage fluid can be controlled below a specified height, and overflow of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11 can be effectively prevented.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the liquid level sensor 8 may be connected to a controller. The controller and a switch are electrically connected to each other. The controller is configured to control the switch to perform an operation of opening or closing the energy storage tank. The liquid level sensor 8 transmits monitored height information of the liquid level to the controller by means of electrical signals, and the controller analyzes the height information of the liquid level monitored by the liquid level sensor 8.

A height value is preset inside the controller, which is usually a height of the liquid level sensor 8 in the inner cavity 11. After the controller receives the height information of the liquid level transmitted by the liquid level sensor 8, the received height information of the liquid level is compared with the preset height value. If the received height information of the liquid level is less than the preset height value, no additional operation is performed to keep the liquid level sensor 8 monitoring. If the received height information of the liquid level is greater than or equal to the preset height value, the controller immediately controls the switch to perform a closing operation, which can effectively avoid a safety accident caused by the overflow of the energy storage fluid in the inner cavity 11.

Finally, it should be noted that the embodiments described above are intended to illustrate, rather than limiting, the present disclosure. Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various combinations, modifications, or equivalent substitutions of the technical solutions of the present disclosure made within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure are to be encompassed by the scope of the claims of the present disclosure.