Methods of remotely managing water heating units in a water heater

• US 8,938,311 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel P. Flohr
• Original Assignee: Daniel P. Flohr
• Inventors: Flohr, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US14/053,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20140037275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 700/65, 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 700/296, 700/297, 700/299
• US Class Current: 700/65
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/08 Electric heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/201 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/202 with resistances
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/176 Improving or maintaining comfort of users
• 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 15/421 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/45 remotely accessible
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2021 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/28 characterised by the graphical user interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• 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 3/14 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 electrical power storage can include remotely controlling operation of one of a plurality of water heating units included in a single water heater, separately from controlling a remainder of the plurality of the water heating units, at a customer location in response to a remotely transmitted indication.

Claims

1. A method of managing electrical power storage comprising:

remotely controlling operation of one of a plurality of water heating units included in a single water heater, separately from controlling a remainder of the plurality of the water heating units, at a customer location in response to a remotely transmitted indication, wherein the water heating units comprise respective water heating elements, and

remotely controlling operation of one of the plurality of water heating units comprises;

remotely controlling operation of a lower heating element in the single water heater separate from controlling operation of upper and intermediate heating elements included in the single water heater wherein the intermediate heating element is configured for activation responsive to the upper heating element being deactivated; and

wherein remotely controlling operation comprises;

coupling power to an upper water heating unit in a default mode of operation in response to absence of the remotely transmitted indication at the customer location; and

coupling the power away from an upper water heating unit to a lower water heating unit in a utility controlled mode of operation for the single water heater responsive to presence of the remotely transmitted indication at the customer location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein remotely controlling operation comprises:

transmitting the remotely transmitted indication from a remote system, that is associated with a service provider, over a network to the customer location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

coupling the power away from the lower water heating unit back to the upper water heating unit to restore the default mode of operation for the single water heater responsive to absence of the remotely transmitted indication.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

coupling power away from all water heating units in the single water heater responsive to the remotely transmitted indication to shed load received from a remote system associated with a service provider.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the water heating units comprise respective water heating elements, wherein remotely controlling operation comprises:

coupling power away from all water heating elements in the single water heater responsive to the remotely transmitted indication to shed load received from a remote system associated with a service provider.