双语阅读你知道热水器的工作原理吗？

　　双语阅读
　　Those fun baths you give the kids? They wouldn＂t be so fun without a hot water heater.
　　你给孩子们洗的那些好玩的澡?如果没有热水器，他们就不会这么有趣了。
　　Water heaters are familiar fixtures in most homes. That＂s because the water coming into your home makes a journey through a system of pipes, and it＂s usually cold or cool, depending on the time of year. To have water warm enough to take a shower or bath or wash clothes, you need a water heater.
　　热水器是大多数家庭中常见的固定设备。这是因为进入你家的水要经过一个管道系统，通常是冷的还是凉的，这取决于一年中的时间。要想有足够温暖的水来洗澡、泡澡或洗衣服，你需要一个热水器。
　　They typically look like big metal cylinders and they＂re often confined to a utility room or basement. Newer styles have some interesting features, like tankless water heaters that provide endless hot water on demand.
　　它们通常看起来像巨大的金属圆柱体，通常被限制在杂物间或地下室。较新的热水器有一些有趣的特点，比如即热式热水器，可以按需提供源源不断的热水。
　　But the old, reliable water heater design that＂s most widely used in the U.S. today is really a pretty simple appliance; it＂s basically a drum filled with water and equipped with a heating mechanism on the bottom or inside. Common energy sources for heating up water include electricity, burner oil and natural gas. Some modern applications have also moved to solar and geothermal heat for increased efficiency.
　　但老式的、可靠的热水器设计在今天的美国被广泛使用，实际上是一个相当简单的电器;它基本上是一个装满水的鼓，并在底部或内部配备了加热机构。加热水的常见能源包括电、燃烧油和天然气。为了提高效率，一些现代应用也转向了太阳能和地热。
　　What makes water heaters interesting is that they exploit the principle that heat rises to deliver hot water right to your faucet with minimum fuss. Don＂t let the simple shape shrouded in its wooly insulating blanket fool you. Water heaters have an ingenious design on the inside for something that looks so ordinary on the outside.
　　热水器的有趣之处在于，它们利用了热量上升的原理，以最小的麻烦将热水送到你的水龙头。不要被包裹在羊毛绝缘毯下的简单形状所欺骗。热水器的外观看起来很普通，但内部却有巧妙的设计。
　　Contents 目录 Inside a Water Heater 热水器内部 Heating the Water 加热水 Tankless and Alternative Water Heaters 即热式和替代式热水器 Inside a Water Heater 热水器内部
　　Gas and electric water heater looks similar, but they have different heating elements.
　　燃气热水器和电热水器看起来很相似，但它们的加热元件不同。
　　Let＂s take a quick look at the inner components that work together in your water heater to make your morning shower so satisfying:
　　让我们来快速了解一下热水器的内部组件，这些组件可以让你在早上淋浴时感到满足:Tank:  The inner shell of a water heater is a heavy metal tank containing a water protective liner that holds 40 to 60 gallons (151 to 227 liters) of hot water at around 50 to 100 pounds per square inch (PSI), within the pressure range of a typical residential water system. The exterior of the tank is covered in an insulating material like polyurethane foam. Over that, there＂s a decorative outer shell and possibly an additional insulating blanket.水箱:热水器的内壳是一个重金属容器，里面有一个水保护内衬，可以容纳40到60加仑(151到227升)的热水，每平方英寸(PSI)约50到100磅，在典型住宅供水系统的压力范围内。罐的外部覆盖着一种绝缘材料，如聚氨酯泡沫。在那上面，有一个装饰性的外壳，可能还有一个额外的绝缘毯。 Dip tube:  Water enters the water heater through the dip tube at the top of the tank and travels to the tank bottom where it＂s then heated. 浸管:水通过水箱顶部的浸管进入热水器，然后流到水箱底部，在那里它被加热。 Shut-off valve:  The shut-off valve stops water from flowing into the water heater. It＂s a separate component from the heater located outside and above the unit.切断阀:切断阀的作用是防止水流入热水器。这是一个独立的组件加热器位于外面和上面的单位。 Heat-out pipe:  Suspended toward the top of the tank＂s interior, the heat-out pipe allows the hot water to exit the water heater.热出管:热出管悬挂在水箱内部的顶部，可以让热水从热水器中排出。 Thermostat:  This is a thermometer- and temperature-control device. Some electric water heaters have a separate thermostat for each element.温控器:这是一个温度计和温度控制装置。有些电热水器每个元件都有单独的恒温器。 Heating mechanism:  Electric water heaters have heating elements inside the tank to heat the water. Gas water heaters use a burner and chimney system instead.加热机制:电热水器在水箱内有加热元件来加热水。燃气热水器使用燃烧器和烟囱系统代替。 Drain valve:  Located near the bottom of the exterior housing, the drain valve makes it easy to empty the tank to replace the elements, remove sediment or move the tank to another location.排水阀:位于外部外壳底部附近，排水阀可以方便地清空水箱，以更换元件，清除沉淀物或将水箱移动到另一个位置。 Pressure relief valve:  This safety device keeps the pressure inside the water heater within safe limits.减压阀:这种安全装置保持热水器内的压力在安全范围内。 Sacrificial anode rod:  Made of magnesium or aluminum with a steel core, the sacrificial anode rod is suspended in the water heater tank to help retard corrosion.阳极棒:阳极棒由镁或铝制成，钢芯，悬挂在热水器水箱中，起到延缓腐蚀的作用。
　　Now, let＂s see how all these parts work together to provide you with hot water.
　　现在，让我们看看这些部件是如何一起工作为你提供热水的。
　　Ice, Ice Baby! Too Cold? 冰，冰宝贝!太冷?
　　If your electric water heater is taking longer to bring water to temperature than it used to, the bottom heating element inside the tank may have burned out. It may also be time to use your tank＂s drain valve to remove accumulated sediment.
　　如果你的电热水器需要比以前更长的时间才能使水达到温度，那么水箱内的底部加热元件可能已经烧坏了。也可能是时候使用水箱的排水阀去除积聚的沉淀物。Heating the Water 加热水
　　You can adjust the temperature of your water heater to save energy, and to prevent scalding from super hot water.
　　您可以调节热水器的温度，以节省能源，并防止过热的水烫伤。
　　Let＂s take a close-up look at what＂s going on inside a water heater＂s tank to see how it does its job.
　　让我们近距离看看热水器水箱里发生了什么，看看它是如何工作的。
　　A water heater＂s  thermostat  controls the temperature of the water inside the tank. Normally, you can set the temperature anywhere between 120 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit (49 to 82 degrees Celsius). The water temperature setting recommended by most manufacturers is between 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (49 to 60 degrees Celsius). This is hot enough to be sufficient for household use, but not hot enough that it can pose a scalding risk. If there are children living in your home, it＂s wise to stay closer to the lower end of the range.
　　热水器的恒温器控制水箱内水的温度。通常情况下，你可以将温度设置在120到180华氏度(49到82摄氏度)之间。大多数制造商推荐的水温设置在120至140华氏度(49至60摄氏度)之间。这个温度足够家庭使用，但还不够热，可能会造成烫伤的风险。如果你家有孩子，明智的做法是住在范围较低的地方。
　　Setting your water heater to a lower temperature saves energy, too, and if you remember to dial back the heat when you go on vacation, you＂ll experience even more energy savings. Usually, the thermostat is located underneath a protective cover plate and has a knob or dial you can turn to set the temperature.
　　将热水器设置在较低的温度也可以节省能源，如果你记得在度假时降低温度，你会节省更多的能源。通常，恒温器位于一个保护盖板的下面，有一个旋钮或刻度盘，你可以转动来设置温度。
　　The  dip tube  feeds cold water from your home＂s water lines to the bottom of the tank＂s interior, where the water starts to warm up. The  heating mechanism  — either a burner or an element — stays on until the water reaches temperature.
　　浸水管将冷水从你家的水管输送到水箱内部的底部，在那里水开始变暖。加热机制——一个燃烧器或一个元件——一直开着，直到水达到温度。
　　As the water heats, it rises to the top of the tank. The  heat-out pipe  is located near the top of the tank. Water exiting the water heater at the top is always the hottest in the tank at any given moment because it＂s the nature of hot water to rise above denser, cold water.
　　当水加热时，它会上升到水箱的顶部。热出管位于罐体顶部附近。在任何给定的时刻，从热水器顶部流出的水总是水箱中最热的，因为热水的性质是高于密度更大的冷水。
　　The secret to a water heater＂s design for separating cold, incoming water from hot, outgoing water is that it relies on the principle that heat rises to do the hard part. The position of the heat-out pipe at the top of the tank does the rest.
　　热水器设计的秘密在于，它依靠的原理是热量上升来完成最难的部分。热出管的位置在罐的顶部做其余的。
　　Home improvement experts recommend performing preventative maintenance annually on tank-style water heaters, which a professional technician can help you with. Components such as the pressure release valve and anode rod should be inspected to ensure effective operation.
　　家庭装修专家建议每年对水箱式热水器进行预防性维护，专业技术人员可以帮助你。应检查减压阀、阳极棒等部件，以确保有效运行。
　　Over time, the tank can also fill up with natural sediment and minerals from your water source. These contaminants clump together at the bottom of the heater, reducing its efficiency and potentially shortening the service life of the system. To stop this from happening, the technician can drain the tank and flush out any collected sediment.
　　随着时间的推移，水箱也会被来自水源的天然沉积物和矿物质填满。这些污染物在加热器底部聚集在一起，降低了它的效率，并可能缩短系统的使用寿命。为了防止这种情况发生，技术人员可以排出水箱并冲洗任何收集的沉积物。Tankless and Alternative Water Heaters 即热式和替代式热水器
　　Heavy metal tank water heaters like the one seen here can hold about 40 to 60 gallons (151 to 227 liters) of water, and they heat the water constantly.
　　像这里看到的这种重型金属水箱热水器可以容纳大约40到60加仑(151到227升)的水，并且它们不断地加热水。
　　Although tank style water heaters are still very popular, especially in the U.S.,  tankless water heaters  are gaining in popularity. Where a tank-style water heater continuously heats the water to make it available when you need it, a tankless system creates hot water on demand. Tankless heaters sit idle most of the time, and are automatically switched on whenever hot water is needed.
　　虽然水箱式热水器仍然很受欢迎，特别是在美国，即热式热水器越来越受欢迎。水箱式热水器不断加热水，以便在您需要时提供水，而无水箱系统则根据需要产生热水。即热式加热器大部分时间处于闲置状态，在需要热水时自动打开。
　　These provide less gallons-per-minute of hot water than a typical heater, and can take a while to warm up. However, they also use nearly zero energy when hot water is not needed. By comparison, the traditional system will keep switching itself on to maintain the heat in its tank, even when no one is home.
　　这种热水器每分钟提供的热水比普通的加热器少一加仑，而且需要一段时间才能加热。然而，当不需要热水时，它们也几乎不用任何能量。相比之下，即使没有人在家，传统的系统也会继续打开电源以保持水箱中的热量。
　　Although this can mean big energy savings, a tankless system can initially cost up to three times as much as a standard water heater setup. Multiple water heaters will also likely be required to effectively provide hot water for multiple bathrooms and appliances. On the other hand, energy savings will go back into your pocket in the long run, and there are often incentives like tax rebates that go toward the installation of high-efficiency heaters.
　　虽然这可以节省大量的能源，但一套即热式系统最初的成本可能是标准热水器设置的三倍。为了有效地为多个浴室和电器提供热水，还可能需要多个热水器。另一方面，从长远来看，节省下来的能源会回到你的口袋里，而且经常有退税等激励措施用于安装高效加热器。
　　Other types of efficient heaters are used in more niche applications, such as solar heating systems. These use a series of water-filled pipes installed along the roof of a building. These pipes collect the natural heat of the sun and then transfer the hot water into an insulated collection tank using pumps or gravity flow. In the process, the system uses very little energy, but it requires a warm, sunny climate and a lot of roof space.
　　其他类型的高效加热器用于更小众的应用，如太阳能加热系统。它们使用沿着建筑物屋顶安装的一系列充满水的管道。这些管道收集太阳的自然热量，然后通过泵或重力流将热水输送到一个绝缘的收集水箱中。在这个过程中，该系统消耗的能源很少，但它需要温暖、阳光充足的气候和大量的屋顶空间。
　　There are drawbacks, as cold weather can cut off the whole hot water supply. It also takes a long time to replenish the storage tank if it is drained completely. Many solar water heaters will also include an electrical or gas heating method as a backup, which helps alleviate the disadvantages.
　　但也有缺点，因为寒冷的天气会切断整个热水供应。如果完全排干，也需要很长时间来补充储存罐。许多太阳能热水器还将包括电或燃气加热方法作为备份，这有助于减轻缺点。
　　Geothermal water heaters work similarly to their solar counterparts, but instead use pipes buried underground. In areas of volcanic activity, geothermal heaters can take advantage of the reliable and practically infinite heat that radiates from the Earth＂s core.
　　地热热水器的工作原理与太阳能热水器类似，但使用的是埋在地下的管道。在火山活动地区，地热加热器可以利用可靠的、几乎无限的从地核辐射出来的热量。