Smart water heater system, method and computer readable media

A smart water heater system kit for a water heater system for a domestic water system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

• a mixing valve configured to blend cold water from the cold water supply with the hot water from the hot water outlet of a water tank to produce blended water, where in the blended water is directed to the domestic water system;
• a first flow meter configured to measure a flow rate of the blended water from the mixing valve;
• a second flow meter configured to measure a flow rate of cold water supplied to the domestic water system;
• a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the cold water supplied to the water tank;
• and
• a controller in communication with the mixing valve, the first flow meter, the second flow meter, and the pressure sensor, the controller being configured to:
• determine, using measurements from the first flow meter, the second flow meter, and the pressure sensor, an average water temperature utilized be each fixture over time during an initialization period;
• identify, using measurements from the first flow meter, the second flow meter, and the pressure sensor, one or more fixtures being used when the domestic water system is drawing water from the water tank;
• and
• adjust the mixing valve such that the blended water is about equal to the average water temperature of an identified fixture when one fixture is being used and to the higher of the average water temperatures utilized by each identified fixture when multiple fixtures are used simultaneously.

A method of operating a smart water heater system for a domestic water system having a plurality of fixtures, the method comprising:

• measuring the pressure of cold water supplied to a hot water tank of the system from a cold water supply during operation;
• heating the cold water supplied to the hot water tank to produce hot water;
• mixing cold water from the cold water supply with hot water from the hot water tank to produce blended water, where in the blended water is directed to the domestic water system;
• measuring a flow rate of the blended water supplied to the domestic water system;
• measuring a flow rate of the cold water supplied to the domestic water system from the cold water supply;
• and
• operating a controller, wherein operating the controller includes:
• identifying, using the measured pressure of cold water, flow rate of the blended water, and flow rate of the cold water, which fixture is being used when the domestic water system is drawing water from the hot water tank;
• determining, using the measured pressure of cold water, flow rate of the blended water, and flow rate of the cold water, an average water temperature utilized by each fixture;
• and
• adjusting a mixing valve such that the blended water is about equal to the average water temperature of an identified fixture when one fixture is being used and to the higher of the average water temperatures utilized by each identified fixture when multiple fixtures are used simultaneously.