Macro Energy Storage and Heat Exchange Electric Water Heater

Energy Storage and Heat Exchange Technology for Electric Water Heaters: A Highly Efficient and Stable Constant Temperature and Energy-Saving Solution

An energy storage and heat exchange electric water heater is a system solution that couples a heat storage unit (energy storage) with a heat exchange module, and incorporates instantaneous heating/water mixing control. This solution uses "energy storage" as a means of energy buffering and preheating, transferring heat energy to the flowing water via a high-efficiency heat exchange medium. This significantly improves energy efficiency, shortens waiting times, and enhances the constant temperature experience while ensuring rapid heating. Macro has multiple patents and publicly available technical information in this area.

Patent Numbers:

CN119042813B — Control Method and Device for Energy Storage and Heat Exchange Electric Water Heaters

CN119554785B — A Water Heater with Energy Storage and Heat Exchange, and Its Control Method and System

Core Working Principle of Energy Storage and Heat Exchange Technology

1. Heat Storage Unit (Heat Storage Heater): During periods of low electricity demand or low electricity consumption, electrical energy is converted into heat and stored in a heat exchange medium (such as a dedicated heat storage element or liquid).

2. Heat Exchange Module: When water demand arises, cold water exchanges heat with the heat storage medium through a heat exchanger, quickly reaching the preheated water temperature and reducing the power demand for instant heating.

3. Instant Heating Compensation Heater: When the instantaneous load exceeds the heat storage and exchange capacity, the instant heating element activates the compensation output to ensure the outlet water temperature reaches the set value.

4. Intelligent Control and Valve Position Adjustment: The system monitors the inlet water temperature, flow rate, outlet water temperature, and equipment power in real time, and uses algorithms such as PID to adjust the instant heating power and the mixing valve ratio to achieve rapid constant temperature and optimize energy consumption.

Macro's Technological Innovation Breaks Through Industry Bottlenecks

The core of Macro's energy storage heat exchange technology lies in its innovative system design. The entire system consists of an energy storage tank, a mixing valve, and an instant heating heater. Through intelligent collaboration, they achieve efficient hot water supply.

The innovative nature of Macro's energy storage heat exchange technology has been recognized by industry authorities. The China Light Industry Federation has certified its key energy storage heat exchange technology for electric water heaters as internationally leading. Key Points of Macro Energy Storage and Heat Exchange Technology:

Energy Storage/Regenerator Structure: The design must balance specific heat capacity, heat transfer rate, and volume density to ensure sufficient heat storage within a limited volume and rapid heat release.

High-Efficiency Heat Exchanger: The heat exchanger utilizes an immersed or tube-in-tube design with optimized flow paths to improve heat transfer coefficients and reduce resistance. Materials primarily utilize copper/stainless steel with high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. The heat exchange structure and control strategy are also protected in relevant patents.

Instantaneous Heater and Electrical Power Management: The output of the instantaneous heater and the release of stored energy work in tandem. The controller determines whether to activate the instantaneous heater based on the "instantaneous power demand" and "instantaneous heat available power."

Temperature/Flow Sensing and Valve Actuation: Fine-grained temperature control and rapid response are achieved through high-precision temperature sensors, flow sensors, and stepper or servo mixing valves. 

Control Algorithm: Typically, the system: estimates instantaneous power demand based on real-time inlet water temperature and flow rate → compares it with the instantaneous heating power → calculates the mixing valve adjustment ratio → uses PID/second-order correction closed-loop adjustments based on the outlet water temperature difference until the temperature stabilizes.

This system's workflow is scientific and efficient: after cold water enters the system, a portion of the water enters the energy storage tank for heat exchange, converting it to high-temperature water before entering the mixing valve; the remaining portion enters the mixing valve directly. The low-temperature water is then reheated by the instantaneous heating heater, ultimately reaching the user's desired bathing temperature. This process is precisely controlled using a patented control algorithm, significantly reducing the time it takes for users to go from boiling water to using it.

These technological innovations not only address long-standing industry pain points but also provide new insights for the development of electric water heater technology. On February 28, 2025, the "Energy Storage Instantaneous Electric Water Heater" group standard, drafted by Macro, was officially implemented, further solidifying the company's technological leadership in the industry.

Performance Comparison of Energy Storage Heat Exchange Electric Water Heaters and Traditional Electric Water Heaters

Macro's energy storage heat exchange technology offers significant advantages over traditional electric water heaters:

Macro's energy storage heat exchange electric water heater offers multiple advantages:

1. Energy saving and consumption reduction: Utilizing energy storage buffering and heat exchange preheating, the peak power consumption and continuous operating time of the instantaneous heating element are reduced, improving overall thermal efficiency.

2. Rapid constant temperature experience: Heat exchange preheating combined with intelligent valve position control reduces initial temperature fluctuations at the outlet, achieving "instant heating and stable temperature."

3. Adaptability to various water conditions: Real-time estimation and control of inlet water temperature and flow rate adapts to fluctuations in hot and cold water sources and multiple water intake locations. 

4. Lifespan and Maintenance: Optimized heat exchange design and low-frequency peak instant heating operation reduce heating element fatigue. Select models also feature an antibacterial liner and a no-clean design for enhanced maintenance.

5. Space-Optimized Design: Utilizing highly integrated, compact design technology, the water heater's body thickness is reduced by 45% compared to traditional products. Its new rectangular form allows for concealed installation, achieving a completely flat, fully embedded aesthetic.

Macrae Energy Storage Heat Exchange Electric Water Heater Applications

1. Multi-point Household Water Use

In modern homes, multiple water points, such as bathrooms and kitchens, are often used simultaneously. Traditional storage water heaters can easily experience fluctuating water temperatures, while instantaneous water heaters struggle to maintain a stable flow rate when underpowered. Macro's energy storage heat exchange technology utilizes an energy storage element, a high-efficiency heat exchanger, and intelligent compensation control to continuously deliver constant-temperature hot water even at multiple points in the home. 

2. Apartments, Model Homes, and Hotel Rooms

Addressing the limited space in apartments, model homes, and hotel rooms, traditional large-volume storage water heaters are difficult to install, while instant water heaters struggle to balance water output and stability. Macro's small-volume energy storage heat exchanger is compact and takes up little space, easily fitting inside bathroom cabinets, wall-mounted, or ceiling-mounted. Its combination of energy storage and heat exchange ensures high water flow and rapid temperature regulation, meeting the needs of frequent starts and stops and continuous water use by multiple users.

3. Project Integration and Smart Buildings

Macro's energy storage heat exchanger technology offers excellent scalability and system compatibility. It supports integration with power management systems and automatically activates energy storage mode during peak and off-peak electricity prices, achieving energy-saving operation. It can also integrate with building control systems (BAS) for remote monitoring, fault diagnosis, and energy-saving optimization. It meets the needs of multi-point simultaneous water use and electromechanical system integration in large-scale projects such as real estate, hotels, hospitals, and schools.

As the trend toward smart and green appliances continues to deepen in the home appliance industry, Macro will continue to push the boundaries of technology to bring higher-quality products and services to users around the world. Macro's energy storage and heat exchange technology has been successfully applied to products such as the Vientiane kitchen heating system, providing users with a more comfortable and energy-efficient hot water experience.