METHODS, CIRCUITS, WATER HEATERS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR REMOTE MANAGEMENT OF SEPARATE HEATING ELEMENTS IN STORAGE WATER HEATERS

• US 20100179705A1
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sequentric Energy Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Sequentric Energy Systems LLC
• Inventors: Flohr, Daniel P.
• Application Number:
  US12/687,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20100179705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/08 Electric heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/168 Reducing the electric power demand peak
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/225 at different heights of the tank
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/37 of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/45 remotely accessible
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2021 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/004 Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

A method of managing excess electrical power generation can be provided by remotely controlling operation of one of at least two heating elements included in a single water heater, where the heating elements are controlled separately from one another, at a customer location in response to availability of generated electricity to the customer location.

Claims

1. A method of managing excess electrical power generation comprising:

remotely controlling operation of one of at least two heating elements included in a single water heater, separately from one another, at a customer location in response to availability of generated electricity to the customer location.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least two heating elements comprise a first heating element in an upper portion of the single water heater and a second heating element in a lower portion of the single water heater.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein remotely controlling operation of one of at least two heating elements comprises:

selectively coupling power to the upper heating element responsive to a remote signal from outside the water heater and selectively de-coupling power to the lower heating element responsive to the remote signal.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein remotely controlling operation of one of at least two heating elements further comprises:

coupling power from a common terminal of a first relay to a normally closed terminal of the first relay and coupling power from a common terminal of a second relay, coupled to the normally closed terminal of the first relay, to a normally closed terminal of the second relay in response to the remote signal to provide power to the upper heating element via a first external terminal of the single water heater; and

de-coupling power from the common terminal of the first relay to a normally open terminal of the first relay in response to the remote signal to remove power to the lower heating element via a second external terminal of the single water heater that is separate from the first external terminal.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein remotely controlling operation of one of at least two heating elements comprises:

selectively de-coupling power to the upper heating element responsive to a remote signal from outside the water heater and selectively coupling power to the lower heating element responsive to the remote signal.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein remotely controlling operation of one of at least two heating elements further comprises:

coupling power from a common terminal of a first relay to a normally open terminal of the first relay in response to the remote signal to provide power to the lower heating element via a first external terminal of the single water heater; and

de-coupling power from the common terminal of the first relay to a normally closed terminal of the first relay in response to the remote signal to remove power to the upper heating element via a second external terminal of the single water heater that is separate from the first external terminal.

7. A method according to claim 2 wherein remotely controlling operation of one of at least two heating elements comprises:

selectively de-coupling power to the upper heating element responsive to a remote signal from outside the water heater and selectively de-coupling power to the lower heating element responsive to the remote signal.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein remotely controlling operation of one of at least two heating elements further comprises:

coupling power from a common terminal of a first relay to a normally closed terminal of the first relay and coupling power from a common terminal of a second relay, coupled to the normally closed terminal of the first relay, to a normally open terminal of the second relay in response to the remote signal to remove power to the upper and lower heating elements via separate first and second external terminals of the single water heater.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the availability of generated electricity comprises the availability of excess generated electricity exceeding demand.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein remotely controlling operation comprises enabling the lower heating element to be activated when excess electrical power generation capacity exists to store excess electrical power at the customer location in a lower portion of the single water heater to allow later usage of the portion at the customer location.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein enabling the lower water heater to be activated when excess electrical power generation capacity exists comprises transmitting an activation signal from a system operated by the electric service provider over a network to a power relay at the customer location to couple only the lower heating element to electrical power.

12. An electrical water heater comprising:

a water heater housing;

a water tank in the water heater housing configured to hold water for heating;

an upper heating element located in an upper portion of the water tank;

a lower heating element located in a lower portion of the water tank;

a first external terminal on an outer surface of the water heater housing, electrically coupled to one terminal of the upper heating element; and

a second external terminal on the outer surface of the water heater housing, electrically coupled to one terminal of the lower heating element and electrically insulated from the one terminal of the upper heating element inside the water tank.

13. An electrical water heater according to claim 12 further comprising:

an upper thermostat control relay in the upper portion of the water tank configured to selectively couple power from a common terminal of the upper thermostat control relay to a second terminal of the upper heating element responsive to a temperature associated with the upper portion; and

a lower thermostat control relay in the lower portion of the water tank configured to selectively couple power from the common terminal of the upper thermostat control relay to a second terminal of the lower heating element responsive to a temperature associated with the lower portion.

14. A load control module comprising:

a processor circuit configured to control operation of one of at least two heating elements included in a single water heater, separately from one another, at a customer location in response to availability of generated electricity to the customer location.

15. A load control module according to claim 14 further comprises:

a lower heating element control relay including a common terminal configured for coupling to a first conductor of electrical power, a normally open terminal configured for coupling to a lower heating element in a water heater, and a normally closed terminal, the lower heating element control relay operating responsive to a first control input signal;

an upper heating element control relay including a common terminal coupled to the normally closed terminal of the lower heating element control relay and a normally closed terminal configured for coupling to an upper heating element in the water heater, the upper heating element control relay operating responsive to a second control input signal,

wherein the processor circuit is further configured to switch electrical power through the normally closed terminals of the upper and lower heating element control relays to provide electrical power to only the upper heating element and to switch electrical power through the normally open terminal of the lower heating element control relay to provide electrical power to only the lower heating element.

16. A computer program product for managing excess electrical power generation comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program product comprising;

computer readable program code configured to control operation of one of at least two heating elements included in a single water heater, separately from one another, at a customer location in response to availability of generated electricity to the customer location.