Supplemental heating system

• US 5,805,856 A
• Filed: 05/03/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey H. Hanson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey H. Hanson
• Inventors: Hanson, Jeffrey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUAN PHUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/642,372
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 392/465, 392/466, 392/471, 392/482, 392/449, 392/451, 392/456, 392/496, 392/463, 392/464, 165/287, 165/300, 126/344, 126/362
• US Class Current: 392/465
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• 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 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A heating system includes an electric heater having coupled thereto a temperature controller and a power activation relay switch coupled to the temperature controller and a meter system coupled to a power terminal on the electric heater to provide an interruptible supplemental heating system for use in residential or commercial buildings. The heating system provides electrically generated heat to supplement a primary heating system which generates heat using fuel oil, fuel gas such as natural gas, propane gas, or other fossil fuels. The electric heater can be an electric resistance heater coupled in series with a primary furnace powered by fossil fuel. When the electric resistance heater is activated, the heat contributed by the heater reduces the required heat output of the primary furnace by a corresponding amount of thermal energy. In one embodiment, an electric utility provides electric power to the electric resistance heater at a reduced cost on an as available, fully interruptible basis. The electric utility controls power supply availability via the power activation relay switch coupled to a control circuit of the electric resistance heater. Electricity consumed by the electric heater can be separately metered and billed to a user at the reduced cost via the meter system. Since the incremental cost of electric energy at certain times of the day is less than the equivalent net cost of fuel oil or gas used for space and water heating, a reduction in heating costs for space heating and domestic hot water heating is achieved.

Claims

1. A supplemental heating system for use in a residential or a commercial building having an existing heating system therein, the supplemental heating system having an input fluid port, an output fluid port, a supplemental heater power supply terminal and a supplemental heater control terminal, the supplemental heating system comprising:

a housing comprising an electric heater, said housing having a first electric heater fluid port coupled to the input fluid port of the supplemental heating system, a second electric heater fluid port coupled to the output fluid port of the supplemental heating system, said electric heater including a first electric heater terminal coupled to the power supply terminal of the supplemental heating system and a second electric heater terminal;

a meter coupled to one of the first and second electric heater terminals, said meter for measuring the amount of electricity used by said electric heater;

a temperature control circuit having a first temperature control circuit terminal coupled to the second electric heater terminal and a second temperature control circuit terminal; and

a relay having a first relay terminal coupled to the second terminal of said temperature control circuit and a second relay terminal coupled to the supplemental heater control terminal of the supplemental heating system, said relay for receiving control signals through the supplemental heater control terminal and in response thereto for providing an activation sign which allows said electric heater to draw power through the supplemental heater power supply terminal.

2. The heating system of claim 1 further comprising an indicator for indicating when said electric heater is receiving power, said indicator coupled to at least one of the first and second terminals of said electric heater.

3. The heating system of claim 2 further comprising a switch having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the electrical heater and a second terminal coupled to the power supply terminal of the supplemental heating system wherein when said switch is in a first position said electric heater is able to receive a current signal through the power supply terminal of the supplement heating system and when said switch is in a second different position said electric heater cannot receive a current signal through the power supply terminal of the supplemental heater.

4. The heating system of claim 3 wherein said temperature control circuit is provided as an adjustable temperature control circuit.

5. The heating system of claim 2 further comprising a switch having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of said temperature control circuit and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of said relay.

6. A heating system comprising:

a primary heater having an input port and an output port;

a supplemental heater having a power supply terminal, a control terminal, an input port coupled to the output port of said primary heater and an output port coupled to the input port of said primary heater;

a relay having a first terminal coupled to the control terminal of said supplemental heater, said relay including means for receiving a radio frequency control signal wherein response to the control signal fed thereto said relay allows said supplemental heater to draw power through the power supply terminal of said supplemental heater; and

a meter, having a first terminal coupled to at least one of the power supply terminal and the control terminal of said supplemental heater, said meter for recording the amount of power used by said supplemental heater.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said supplemental heater comprises an electrical resistance heater.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said relay comprises a radio controlled switch.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising an indicator having an input terminal coupled to at least one of the power supply terminal and the control terminal of said supplemental heater.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a temperature control circuit having a first terminal coupled to the control terminal of said electrical resistance heater and having a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of said radio controlled switch.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a switch having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of said temperature control circuit and having a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of said relay.

13. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a water heater having an input port and an output port; and

a heat exchanger having a first port coupled to the input port of said supplemental heater and having a second port coupled to the output port of said supplemental heater, having a third port coupled to the input port of said hot water heater and having a fourth port coupled to the output port of said hot water heater.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a first pump having a first port coupled to at least one of the first and second ports of said heat exchanger and a second port coupled to at least one of the input and output ports of said supplemental heater; and

a second pump having a first port coupled to at least one of the third and fourth ports of said heat exchanger and a second port coupled to at least one of the input and output ports of said water heater.

10. The system of claim further comprising:

power supply; and

a switch having a first terminal coupled to the power supply terminal of said electrical resistance heater and having a second terminal adapted to receive electrical power from said power supply.

15. A heating system comprising:

a primary heating unit having an input port and an output port;

a pump having a pump input port and a pump output port, said pump input port in fluid communication the output port of said primary heating unit,

a secondary heating unit having a power supply terminal, a control terminal, an output port in fluid communication with the input port of said primary heating unit and an input port in fluid communication with the pump output port such that fluid flows from the output port of said secondary heating unit to the input port of said primary heating unit;

a relay having a first terminal coupled to the control terminal of said secondary heating unit, said relay including means for receiving a control signal; and

a meter, having a first terminal coupled to a first one of the power supply terminal and the control terminal of said secondary heating unit said meter for measuring the amount of power consumed by said secondary heating unit.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a water heater having a fluid input port and a fluid output port; and

a heat exchanger having a first fluid port in fluid communication with the fluid input port of said supplemental heater and having a second fluid port in fluid communication with the output port of said supplemental heater and having a third fluid port in fluid communication with the fluid input port of said water heater and having a fourth fluid port in fluid communication with the output port of said water heater.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a second pump having a first fluid port in fluid communication with a first one of the first and second fluid ports of said heat exchanger and a second fluid port in fluid communication with a first one of the input and output fluid ports of said supplemental heater; and

a third pump having a first fluid port in fluid communication with a first one of the third and fourth fluid ports of said heat exchanger and a second fluid port in fluid communication with a first one of the input and output fluid ports of said water heater.

18. The heating system of claim 17 further comprising a first indicator coupled to a first one of the power supply terminal and the control terminal of the secondary heating unit to indicate when said secondary heating unit is receiving power.

19. The heating system of claim 18 further comprising a switch having a first terminal coupled to the control terminal of said secondary heating unit and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of said relay.