Hot water heater systems and methods for controlling electronic mixing valves
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling an electronic mixing valve for a hot water heater, the electronic mixing valve providing a flow of water in a mixed output line, the method comprising:
- monitoring an input temperature of water supplied to the valve from a cold water supply;
storing a minimum of the input temperature;
looking up a predefined position limit associated with the stored minimum in a lookup table;
setting a position limit of the valve to the predefined position limit;
andoperating the valve within a range constrained by the position limit of the valve;
wherein the position limit of the valve is greater than a fully closed position of the valve and less than a fully open position of the valve.
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Abstract
Hot water heater systems including electronic mixing valves and methods for controlling such valves are provided. An electronic mixing valve provides a flow of water in a mixed output line. A method includes monitoring an input temperature of cold water supplied to the valve, storing a value of the input temperature, and setting a position limit of the valve based on the stored value, wherein the position limit of the valve is greater than a fully closed position of the valve and less than a fully open position of the valve.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an electronic mixing valve for a hot water heater, the electronic mixing valve providing a flow of water in a mixed output line, the method comprising:
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monitoring an input temperature of water supplied to the valve from a cold water supply; storing a minimum of the input temperature; looking up a predefined position limit associated with the stored minimum in a lookup table; setting a position limit of the valve to the predefined position limit; and operating the valve within a range constrained by the position limit of the valve; wherein the position limit of the valve is greater than a fully closed position of the valve and less than a fully open position of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of controlling an electronic mixing valve for a hot water heater, the electronic mixing valve providing a flow of water in a mixed output line, the method comprising:
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monitoring an input temperature of cold water supplied to the valve; storing a value of the input temperature; looking up a predefined position limit associated with the stored value in a lookup table; setting a position limit of the valve to the predefined position limit; and operating the valve within a range constrained by the position limit of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A hot water heater, comprising:
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a cold water supply; a hot water tank; an electronic mixing valve, the valve connected to the cold water supply, the hot water tank, and a mixed output line, the valve operable to receive variable input from each of the cold water supply and the hot water tank and to provide a mixed output flow of water in the mixed output line; a motor in communication with the valve, the motor operable to move the valve between a fully open position and a fully closed position; a temperature sensor operable to sense the temperature in one of the cold water supply and the hot water tank; and a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the motor, the controller operable to monitor the sensed temperature, store an extremum of the sensed temperature, look up a predefined position limit associated with the stored extremum in a lookup table, set a position limit of the valve to the predefined position limit, and operate the motor to move the valve within a range constrained by the position limit of the valve, wherein the position limit of the valve is greater than the fully closed position of the valve and less than the fully open position of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification