FLUID HEATING SYSTEM AND INSTANT FLUID HEATING DEVICE

• US 20160245546A1
• Filed: 05/04/2016
• Published: 08/25/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,857,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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;

at least one heat source connected with the inlet port and having a first heat source outlet;

a valve connected to the at least one heat source and the outlet port;

a first temperature sensor connected to the at least one heat source for detecting a first temperature of fluid inside the at least one heat source; and

an ECU that regulates a power supply to the at least one heat source,

wherein the ECU actuates the valve to discharge fluid from the outlet port when the first temperature of fluid inside the at least one heat source is at or above a predetermined temperature.

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

a flow sensor detecting a flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source,

wherein the ECU actuates the at least one heat source to heat fluid when the flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source is at or above a predetermined flow rate.

3. The fluid heating device of claim 1, wherein

the at least one heat source includes a first heat source and a second heat source,

the first heat source includes the first heat source outlet,

the second heat source includes a second heat source outlet, and

the first heat source outlet and the second heat source outlet are connected to a manifold, the manifold being connected to the valve.

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

a first conduit that connects the inlet port to the at least one heat source;

a second conduit that connects the at least one heat source to the valve; and

a third conduit that connects the valve to the outlet port.

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

a flow control device provided in the first conduit downstream of the manifold, wherein

the ECU actuates the at least one heat source to heat fluid in the fluid heating device in response to a flow of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source being equal to or greater than the predetermined flow rate, and

the flow control device controls a flow of fluid downstream of the manifold to be equal to the predetermined flow rate.

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

a second temperature sensor connected to the valve for detecting a second temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source; and

a third temperature sensor connected to the inlet for detecting a third temperature of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source,

wherein the ECU supplies power to the at least one heat source based on the second temperature and the third temperature.

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

a second temperature sensor connected to the valve for detecting a second temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source; and

a third temperature sensor connected to the inlet for detecting a third temperature of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source,

wherein the ECU supplies power to the at least one heat source based on the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature.

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

a second temperature sensor connected to the valve for detecting a second temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source;

a third temperature sensor connected to the inlet for detecting a third temperature of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source; and

a flow sensor connected to the inlet port for detecting a upstream flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source,

wherein the ECU supplies power to the at least one heat source based on the second temperature, the third temperature, and the upstream flow rate.

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

a second temperature sensor connected to the valve for detecting a second temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source; and

a third temperature sensor connected to the inlet for detecting a third temperature of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source; and

a flow sensor connected to the inlet port for detecting a upstream flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source,

wherein the ECU supplies power to the at least one heat source based on the first temperature, the second temperature, the third temperature, and the upstream flow rate.

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

a temperature selector that sets a fluid temperature,

wherein the ECU actuates the at least one heat source to maintain fluid at the set fluid temperature.

11. The fluid device of claim 1, further includes:

a temperature selector that sets a fluid temperature; and

a presence sensor that detects a presence, wherein

the ECU actuates the at least one heat source to maintain fluid at the set fluid temperature while the presence is detected, and

the ECU deactivates the at least one heat source when the presence is no longer detected.

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

a temperature selector that sets a desired fluid temperature; and

a programmable clock programmed with a predetermined time and a predetermined period, wherein

the ECU actuates the at least one heat source to maintain fluid at the desired fluid temperature when the programmable clock indicates the predetermined time, and

the ECU deactivates the at least one heat source after the predetermined period.

13. 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;

an inlet port,

an outlet port,

at least one heat source connected with the inlet port and having a first heat source outlet,

a first temperature sensor connected to the at least one heat source for detecting a first temperature of fluid inside the at least one heat source; and

a ECU that activates and regulates a power supply to the at least one heat source when the first temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

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

a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source; and

a third temperature sensor connected to the inlet for detecting a third temperature of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source wherein

the ECU supplies power to the at least one heat source based on the second temperature and the third temperature.

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

a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source; and

a third temperature sensor connected to the inlet for detecting a third temperature of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source, wherein

the ECU supplies power to the at least one heat source based on the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature.

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

a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source;

a third temperature sensor connected to the inlet for detecting a third temperature of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source; and

a flow sensor connected to the inlet port for detecting a upstream flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source,

wherein the ECU supplies power to the at least one heat source based on the second temperature, the third temperature, and the upstream flow rate.

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

a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source; and

a third temperature sensor connected to the inlet for detecting a third temperature of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source; and

a flow sensor connected to the inlet port for detecting a upstream flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source,

wherein the ECU regulates a power supply to the at least one heat source based on the first temperature, the second temperature, the third temperature, and the upstream flow rate.

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

a temperature selector that sets a fluid temperature,

wherein the ECU actuates the at least one heat source to maintain fluid at the set fluid temperature.

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

a temperature selector sets a fluid temperature; and

a presence sensor that detects a presence, wherein

the ECU actuates the at least one heat source to maintain fluid at the set fluid temperature while the presence is detected, and

the ECU deactivates the at least one heat source when the presence is no longer detected.

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

a temperature selector that sets a fluid temperature; and

a programmable clock programmed with a predetermined time and a predetermined period, wherein

the ECU actuates the at least one heat source to maintain fluid at the set fluid temperature when the programmable clock indicates the predetermined time, and

the ECU deactivates the at least one heat source after the predetermined period.