TIAN Dongdong1 , ZHANG Yong1 , DAI Xuedong2 ,3
( 1 . Automation and Electrical Engineering School , Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology , Baotou 014010 , China; 2 . Technelogy and Management Graduate School , National Bukyang University , Busan 48547 , Korea; 3 . Intellectual Property Infor- mation Service Center , Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology , Baotou 014010 , China)
Abstract : A method of dividing use water periods of electric water heater was proposed in the paper. First , an energy consumption model was constructed according to the electric water heater control mode in terms of the water use periods . Then , a user power con- sumption objective function with probability threshold as an independent variable was developed to meet the users ’needs , ensure nec- essary water use and minimize the thermal insulation energy consumption in the non-water-use period. Next , a particle swarm optimiza- tion algorithm was used to solve the objective function and then to derive a probability threshold that satisfies the user ’s demands . Fi- nally , aided with the optimal probability threshold , the intervals of water and non-water periods for the users were derived. Based on the improved division results of water use periods , a new insulation algorithm of the electric water heater has been designed. In practi- cal application , through this algorithm , a lot of power can be saved without affecting normal water use .
Key words : users ’behavioral habits; electric water heater; threshold division; water use period