Hot water heater stacking reduction control
First Claim
1. A control system for a hot water heater including:
- a reservoir for hot water, a cold water feed for the reservoir, a hot water exit for the reservoir and a heating source for supplying energy to heat water in the reservoir;
a temperature monitoring probe associated with the reservoir for monitoring the temperature of the reservoir;
a thermostat associated with the water in the reservoir; and
a controller for determining the frequency of removal of water from the reservoir based upon this monitoring, the controller for further relating the temperature and frequency of water removal to control the operation of the thermostat temperature control set point.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a hot water heater includes a reservoir for containing hot water, a cold water feed for the reservoir, a hot water exit for the reservoir and means for supplying energy to heat water in the reservoir. A temperature monitoring probe associated with the reservoir monitors the temperature of the reservoir. The frequency of removal of water from the reservoir is monitored. There are means for relating the temperature and frequency of water removal to control the operation of the energy means for supplying heat to the reservoir. The frequency of water usage is signaled by monitoring the water temperature in the reservoir, the water flow from the reservoir, or the pressure of water in the reservoir. Based upon the frequency determination, the setpoint of the heating system can be adjusted so that stacking is avoided.
76 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A control system for a hot water heater including:
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a reservoir for hot water, a cold water feed for the reservoir, a hot water exit for the reservoir and a heating source for supplying energy to heat water in the reservoir;
a temperature monitoring probe associated with the reservoir for monitoring the temperature of the reservoir;
a thermostat associated with the water in the reservoir; and
a controller for determining the frequency of removal of water from the reservoir based upon this monitoring, the controller for further relating the temperature and frequency of water removal to control the operation of the thermostat temperature control set point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling a hot water heater including a reservoir for containing hot water, a cold water feed for the reservoir, a hot water exit for the reservoir, means for supplying energy to heat water in the reservoir;
- a thermostat temperature monitoring probe associated with the reservoir comprising the step of relating the temperature of the water, frequency of water removal to control the operation of the energy means for supplying heat to the reservoir.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification