Systems and methods for heater control in fluid heating systems
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorDavid I. Vega
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed technology includes systems and methods for controlling a water heater. The disclosed systems can be configured to receive temperature data from a temperature sensor, receive flow rate data from a flow rate sensor, and receive a temperature setting. The systems can calculate a heat load rate based on at least the temperature data, the flow rate data, and the temperature setting, and can compare the heat load rate to a predetermined threshold setting. The systems can output instructions to perform a fast corrective action in response to the determination that the heat load is changing at a rate (i.e. the heat load rate) greater than, less than, or equal to the predetermined threshold setting.
Claims20
A controller for a water heater, the controller comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
- receive sensor data from a sensor of the water heater, the sensor data including a current data value and at least one previous data value;
- determine a change rate based on a difference between at least the current data value and the at least one previous data value;
- compare the change rate to a predetermined threshold setting at a predetermined interval throughout the time fluid is flowing through a fluid inlet, wherein the predetermined interval is no greater than 10 seconds;
- and
- output instructions to a heating device to perform a corrective action in response to determining that the change rate exceeds the predetermined threshold setting, the corrective action being a decrease from a first predetermined amount of heat output to a second predetermined amount of heat output, the second predetermined amount of heat output being nonzero.
A method for controlling a water heater, the method comprising:
- receiving temperature data from a temperature sensor configured to measure fluid temperature at a fluid inlet;
- receiving flow rate data from a flow rate sensor configured to measure a flow rate at the fluid inlet;
- receiving a temperature setting;
- calculating a heat load rate based on at least the temperature data, the flow rate data and the temperature setting;
- comparing the heat load rate to a predetermined threshold setting at a predetermined interval throughout the time fluid is flowing through a fluid inlet, wherein the predetermined interval is no greater than 10 seconds;
- and
- outputting instructions to a heating device to perform a corrective action in response to determining that the heat load rate is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold setting, the corrective action being a decrease from a first predetermined amount of heat output to a second predetermined amount of heat output, the second predetermined amount of heat output being nonzero.
A tankless water heater comprising:
- a water inlet;
- one or more heating devices;
- a temperature sensor configured to measure water temperature;
- a flow rate sensor configured to measure water flow rate;
- and
- a controller comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
- receive temperature data from the temperature sensor, the temperature data indicative of a temperature of the water;
- receive flow rate data from the flow rate sensor, the flow rate data indicative of a flow rate of the water;
- receive a water temperature setting from a user interface device;
- calculate a heat load rate based on at least the temperature data, the flow rate data, and the water temperature setting;
- compare the heat load rate to a predetermined threshold setting at a predetermined interval throughout the time fluid is flowing through a fluid inlet, wherein the predetermined interval is no greater than 10 seconds;
- and
- output instructions to at least one of the one or more heating devices to perform a corrective action in response to determining that the heat load rate is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold setting, the corrective action being a decrease from a first predetermined amount of heat output to a second predetermined amount of heat output, the second predetermined amount of heat output being nonzero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.