US 10,564,660 B2 · Water heater energy management controller

Abstract

One example embodiment relates to a water heater controller. The water heater controller includes an operating conditions circuit structured to receive temperature measurement signals indicative of temperatures over time of water in a tank of a water heater, and occupancy measurement signals indicative of whether individuals are present in an area proximate the water heater. A drift threshold circuit is structured to, in response to the occupancy measurement signals indicating that an individual is present or not present, define a plurality of drift threshold levels to trigger operation of a heating element of the water heater. A control circuit is structured to controllably operate the heating element based on the occupancy measurement signals and on the plurality of drift threshold levels.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A water heater controller, comprising:

an operating conditions circuit structured to receive:
temperature measurement signals indicative of temperatures over time of water in a tank of a water heater, and
occupancy measurement signals indicative of whether individuals are present in an area proximate the water heater;
a drift threshold circuit structured to define a plurality of drift threshold levels to trigger operation of a heating element of the water heater, the plurality of drift threshold levels defined based at least in part on the occupancy measurement signals;
and
a control circuit structured to controllably operate a heating element of the water heater based on the occupancy measurement signals and on the corresponding drift threshold level.

3 more elements

A method of controlling operation of a water heater, the method comprising:

receiving operating condition measurement signals, comprising:
temperature measurement signals indicative of temperatures over time of water in a tank of a water heater, and
occupancy measurement signals indicative of whether individuals are present in an area proximate the water heater;
defining a plurality of drift threshold levels to trigger operation of a heating element of the water heater, the plurality of drift threshold levels defined based in part on the occupancy measurement signals;
and
controllably operating the top and bottom heating elements based on the occupancy measurement signals and on the corresponding drift threshold level.

3 more elements

A method, comprising:

measuring first temperatures over time of water in a top tank portion of a water heater;
characterizing first drift and drive curves of the top tank portion of the water heater based on the measured first temperatures;
defining, with regard to the top tank portion, a first threshold recovery time associated with an occupancy status indicating occupancy and a second threshold recovery time associated with the occupancy status indicating non-occupancy;
determining, based on a most recently measured temperature of the first temperatures and the first drive curve, a first recovery time required to drive the water in the top tank portion from the most recently measured temperature of the first temperatures to a first setpoint temperature;
determining the occupancy status indicative of whether individuals are present in an area proximate the water heater;
operating the top heating element in response to determining that:
(1) the occupancy status indicates occupancy, and (2) the first recovery time is less than or equal to the first threshold recovery time;
and
operating the top heating element in response to determining that:
(1) the occupancy status indicates non-occupancy, and (2) the second recovery time is less than or equal to the second threshold recovery time.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water heater energy management controller

Life of this patent

Water heater energy management controller

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24