Fluid heating system and instant fluid heating device

• US 10,203,131 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company (Paloma Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eemax, Inc. (Paloma Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mihu, Sergiu Gabriel, Jurczyszak, Eric R., Hayden, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell, Thor
• Application Number:
  US15/822,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20180080682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/0089 Additional heating means, e.g. electric heated buffer tanks or electric continuous flow heaters, located close to the consumer, e.g. directly before the water taps in bathrooms, in domestic hot water lines
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/08 Packaged or self-contained boilers, i.e. water heaters with control devices and pump in a single unit
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/101 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/105 formed by the tube through which the fluid flows
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/156 Reducing the quantity of energy consumed; Increasing efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/174 Supplying heated water with desired temperature or desired range of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/215 before heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/219 after heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/238 Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/25 Temperature of the heat-generating means in the heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/265 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/281 Input from user
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/31 of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/32 of switching valves for by-passing F24H15/325
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/335 Control of pumps, e.g. on-off control control of compressors of heat pumps F24H15/38
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/37 of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/407 using electrical switching, e.g. TRIAC
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/414 using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/486 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2028 : Continuous-flow heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/28 : characterised by the graphical user interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0283 : For heating of fluids, e.g. water heaters

Abstract

A fluid heating system may be installed for residential and commercial use, and may deliver fluid at consistent high temperatures for cooking, sterilizing tools or utensils, hot beverages and the like, without a limit on the number of consecutive discharges of fluid. The fluid heating system is installed with a tankless fluid heating device that includes an inlet port, an outlet port, at least one heat source connected with the inlet port, and a valve connecting the at least one heat source to the outlet port. A temperature sensor is downstream of the at least one heat source and connected to the valve. Another temperature sensor is on the heat source to enable it to be kept at an elevated temperature. The valve is operated so that an entire volume of a fluid discharge from the fluid heating system is delivered at a user-specified temperature on demand, for every demand.

Claims

1. A fluid heating device comprising:

an inlet port;

an outlet port;

a first enclosure connected with the inlet port and the outlet port and having a first heat source;

an ECU that controls a power supply to the first heat source to heat the fluid inside the first enclosure;

a first temperature sensor connected to the first enclosure for detecting a first temperature of the fluid; and

a flow sensor configured to detect a flow rate of fluid upstream of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls a discharge of fluid heated in the first enclosure from the outlet port as a function of the first temperature and the flow rate.

2. The fluid heating device claim 1, wherein the ECU controls the first heat source to maintain a predetermined temperature of fluid in the first enclosure for a predetermined period of time.

3. The fluid heating device of claim 1, wherein the ECU controls fluid discharge from the first enclosure to the outlet port when the first temperature of fluid inside the first enclosure is at or above a predetermined temperature.

4. The fluid heating device of claim 1, further comprising:

a flow control device connected to an output of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source to heat fluid in the first enclosure in response to the flow rate being equal to or greater than a predetermined flow rate, and the flow control device controls a flow rate of fluid output from the first enclosure to be equal to the predetermined flow rate.

5. The fluid heating device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of fluid downstream of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source as a function of the second temperature sensor.

6. The fluid heating device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third temperature sensor configured to detect a third temperature of fluid upstream of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source as a function of the third temperature sensor.

7. The fluid heating device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of fluid downstream of the first enclosure;

a third temperature sensor configured to detect a third temperature of fluid upstream of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source further as a function of the second temperature and the third temperature.

8. The fluid heating device of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature input device configured to receive a predetermined fluid temperature,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source to maintain fluid within the first enclosure at the set predetermined fluid temperature.

9. The fluid heating device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second enclosure connected with the inlet port and the outlet port and having a second heat source; and

a fourth temperature sensor connected to the second enclosure for detecting a second temperature of fluid inside the second enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls a discharge of fluid in the first and second enclosure from the outlet port further as a function of the fourth temperature.

10. A fluid heating system comprising:

a fluid discharge device connected to an outlet port;

a switch connected to the fluid discharge device; and

a fluid heating device including

a first enclosure connected with the inlet port and the outlet port and having a first heat source;

an ECU that controls a power supply to the first heat source to heat the fluid inside the first enclosure;

a first temperature sensor connected to the first enclosure for detecting a first temperature of the fluid; and

a flow sensor configured to detect a flow rate of fluid upstream of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls a discharge of fluid heated in the first enclosure from the fluid discharge device as a function of the first temperature, the flow rate and the switch.

11. The fluid heating system claim 10, wherein the ECU controls the power supply to the first heat source to maintain a predetermined temperature of fluid in the first enclosure for a predetermined period of time.

12. The fluid heating system of claim 10, wherein the ECU controls fluid discharge from the first enclosure to the fluid discharge device when the first temperature of fluid inside the first enclosure is at or above a predetermined temperature.

13. The fluid heating system of claim 10, further comprising:

a flow control device connected to an output of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source to heat fluid in the first enclosure in response to the flow rate being equal to or greater than a predetermined flow rate, and the flow control device controls a flow rate of fluid output from the first enclosure to be equal to the predetermined flow rate.

14. The fluid heating system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of fluid downstream of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source further as a function of the second temperature sensor.

15. The fluid heating system of claim 10, further comprising:

a third temperature sensor configured to detect a third temperature of fluid upstream of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source further as a function of the third temperature sensor.

16. The fluid heating system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of fluid downstream of the first enclosure;

a third temperature sensor configured to detect a third temperature of fluid upstream of the first enclosure,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source further as a function of the second temperature and the third temperature.

17. The fluid heating system of claim 10, further comprising:

a temperature input device configured to receive a predetermined fluid temperature,

wherein the ECU controls the first heat source to maintain fluid within the first enclosure at the set predetermined fluid temperature.

18. The fluid heating system of claim 10, wherein the ECU prevents fluid discharged until the switch is activated.