Fluid heating system and instant fluid heating device

• US 9,140,466 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• 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: Jurczyszak, Eric R., Hankins, Jeff, Hayden, Chris, Morris, Emily, Opena, Roland, Visinski, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US13/840,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20140023352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 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 that includes an inlet port, an outlet port, a drain port, at least one heat source connected with the inlet port, and a valve manifold connected to the at least one heat source, the drain port, and the outlet port. A temperature sensor is downstream of the at least one heat source and connected to the valve manifold. The valve manifold is operated so that an entire volume of a fluid discharge from the fluid heating system is delivered at a user-specified temperature (including near boiling fluid) on demand, for every demand occurring over a short period of time.

Claims

1. A fluid heating device comprising:

an inlet port;

an outlet port;

a drain port;

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

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

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

a controller that regulates a power supply to the at least one heat source, wherein

the controller actuates the valve manifold to discharge fluid in the heating device via the drain port when the temperature sensor indicates the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is below a predetermined temperature, and

the controller actuates the valve manifold to discharge fluid in the heating device via the outlet port when the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is at or above the predetermined temperature.

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

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

the at least one heat source is actuated to heat fluid by a flow switch of the flow sensor 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 first manifold and the first manifold is connected to the valve manifold.

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

a first manifold connected to the first heat source outlet;

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

a second conduit that connects the first manifold to the valve manifold; and

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

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

a first conduit connecting the first manifold and the valve manifold, and

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

the controller actuates the at least one heat source to heat the fluid in 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 first manifold to be equal to the predetermined flow rate.

6. The fluid heating device of claim 1, wherein the valve manifold comprises:

a first valve connected to the first manifold;

a second valve connected to the drain port; and

a third valve connected to the outlet port.

7. The fluid device of claim 6, wherein the first, second, and third valves are solenoid valves.

8. The fluid heating device of claim 6, wherein

the first valve includes a first port connected to the first manifold, a second port, and a third port,

the second valve is connected to the second port and the drain port,

the third valve is connected to the third port and the outlet port, and

the first valve is disposed between the second valve and the third valve in the valve manifold.

9. A fluid heating system comprising:

a fluid heating device including;

an inlet port,

an outlet port,

a drain port,

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

a valve manifold connected to the at least one heat source, the drain port, and the outlet port,

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

a controller that regulates a power supply to the at least one heat source, wherein

the controller actuates the valve manifold to discharge fluid in the heating device via the drain port when the temperature sensor indicates the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is below a predetermined temperature, and

the controller actuates the valve manifold to discharge fluid in the heating device via the outlet port when the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is at or above the predetermined temperature;

a fluid discharge unit connected to the outlet port;

a switch connected to the fluid discharge unit, wherein

when the switch is operated and a flow rate of fluid in the fluid heating device is at or above a predetermined flow rate, the at least one heat source is actuated.

10. The fluid heating device of claim 9, wherein the valve manifold of the fluid heating device comprises:

a first valve connected to the first manifold;

a second valve connected to the drain port; and

a third valve connected to the outlet port.

11. The fluid device of claim 10, wherein

the controller opens the first valve and the second valve and closes the third valve when the switch is operated and the temperature sensor indicates the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is below the predetermined temperature, and

the controller opens the first valve and the third valve and closes the second valve when the switch is operated and the temperature sensor indicates the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is above the predetermined amount.

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

an outlet conduit connecting the third valve and the outlet port, wherein

the controller operates the first valve to close and the second valve and the third valve to open to allow fluid to flow from the outlet conduit to the drain port when the switch is operated, and

the controller opens the first valve and the third valve and closes the second valve to allow flow of fluid in the heating device through the outlet conduit to the outlet port after fluid in the outlet conduit is allowed to flow to the drain port and the temperature sensor indicates the temperature downstream of the at least one heat source is equal to or above the predetermined temperature.

13. The fluid heating device of claim 12, wherein

the drain port is disposed below at least the outlet port, and the outlet conduit such that fluid in the outlet conduit flows to the drain port by gravity.

14. A method of heating fluid with a fluid heating device including an inlet port, an outlet port, a drain port, at least one heat source connected with the inlet port and having a first heat source outlet, a valve manifold connected to the at least one heat source, the drain port, and the outlet port, and a temperature sensor connected to the valve manifold, a controller that regulates a power supply to the at least one heat source, the method comprising:

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

actuating the valve manifold with the controller to discharge fluid in the heating device via the drain port when the temperature sensor indicates the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is below a predetermined temperature; and

actuating the valve manifold with the controller to discharge fluid in the heating device via the outlet port when the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is at or above the predetermined temperature.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

directing fluid between the valve manifold and the outlet port to the drain port with the valve manifold when an activation switch is operated before detecting the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source;

directing fluid from the heat source outlet to the drain port with the valve manifold when the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source is below a predetermined temperature; and

directing fluid from the heat source outlet to the discharge unit once fluid between the outlet port and the valve manifold is directed to the drain port and the temperature of fluid downstream of the at least on heat source is above the predetermined temperature.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting a flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source when the activation switch is operated;

determining the flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source is equal to or greater than a predetermined flow rate, and

before directing fluid to the discharge unit, operating the at least one heat source to heat fluid in the at least one heat source in response to the flow rate of fluid upstream of the at least one heat source being equal to or greater than the predetermined flow rate.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

regulating a flow of fluid downstream of the at least one heat source outlet to be equal to the predetermined flow rate.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein

directing fluid between the valve manifold and the outlet port to the drain port comprises simultaneously closing a first valve of the valve manifold connected to the first manifold, opening a second valve of the valve manifold connected to the drain port, and opening a third valve of the valve manifold connected to the outlet port until the fluid between the valve manifold and the outlet port is conveyed through the drain port, and

directing fluid from the heat source outlet between the valve manifold and the first manifold to the drain port comprises simultaneously opening the first valve, opening the second valve, and closing the third valve until the temperature of the fluid from the heat source outlet between the first manifold and the valve manifold is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein directing fluid from the fluid heating device to the discharge device comprises:

simultaneously opening the first valve, closing the second valve, and opening the third valve when the fluid between the valve manifold and the outlet port discharged by the drain port and the temperature of the fluid from the heat source outlet between the first manifold and the valve manifold is greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature.