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US 11,859,869 B2Granted
Systems and methods for integrating photovoltaic energy into water heater systems
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorsRaheel A. Chaudhry, James Michael Reagin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for integrating photovoltaic (PV) energy into water heater systems are disclosed. The disclosed technology includes determining whether a current water temperature is less than a first PV heat point that is greater than a normal heat point, and if so, outputting instructions for PV energy to be transferred from a PV system to a heating device of the water heater. If the current water temperature falls below a second PV heat point that is less than the normal heat point, the disclosed technology includes outputting instructions for energy to be transferred from a utility system to the heating device.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving, by at least one processor of a control system of a water heater, a current water temperature from the water heater;
- determining, by the at least one processor, that the current water temperature is less than a first PV heat point that is greater than a normal lower threshold heat point;
- in response to the current water temperature being less than the first PV heat point, calculating, by the at least one processor, a required amount of energy to increase a temperature of the water from the current water temperature to a set point temperature greater than the first PV heat point;
- determining, by the at least one processor, that the required amount of the energy is greater than an amount of available PV energy in a PV system at a first time;
- in response to the required amount of the energy being greater than the amount of the available PV energy at the first time, determining, by the at least one processor, that the current water temperature is less than or equal to the normal lower threshold heat point;
- in response to the current water temperature being less than or equal to the normal lower threshold heat point, determining, by the at least one processor, that the amount of the available PV energy is greater than or equal to the required amount of the energy at a second time;
- and
- in response to the amount of the available PV energy being greater than or equal to the required amount of the energy at the second time, setting, by the at least one processor, a switch of the control system to transfer PV energy from the PV system to a heating device of the water heater, until the current water temperature is greater than or equal to the set point temperature, and to not transfer energy from a utility system to the heating device.
5 more elements
A controller for controlling operation of a water heater, the controller comprising:
- one or more processors;
- a switch;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
- receive a current water temperature from the water heater;
- determine that the current water temperature is less than a first PV heat point that is greater than a normal lower threshold heat point;
- in response to the current water temperature being less than the first PV heat point, calculate a required amount of energy to increase a temperature of the water from the current water temperature to a set point temperature greater than the first PV heat point;
- determine whether that the required amount of the energy is greater than an amount of available PV energy in a PV system at a first time;
- in response to the required amount of the energy being greater than the amount of available PV energy at the first time, determine that the current water temperature is less than or equal to the normal lower threshold heat point;
- in response to the current water temperature being less than or equal to the normal lower threshold heat point, determine that the amount of the available PV energy at a second time is greater than or equal to the required amount of the energy;
- and
- in response to the amount of the available PV energy being greater than or equal to the required amount of the energy at the second time, set the switch to transfer PV energy from the PV system to a heating device of the water heater, until the current water temperature is greater than or equal to the set point temperature, and to not transfer energy from a utility system to the heating device.
9 more elements
A system for switching between power sources of a water heater, the system comprising:
- the water heater;
- and
- a switch operatively connecting a controller to a PV system and to a utility system, the controller comprising a one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
- receive a current water temperature from the water heater;
- determine whether that the current water temperature is less than a first PV heat point that is greater than a normal lower threshold heat point;
- in response to the current water temperature being less than the first PV heat point, calculate a required amount of energy to increase a temperature of the water from the current water temperature to a set point temperature;
- determine whether that the required amount of the energy is greater than an amount of available PV energy in the PV system at a first time;
- in response to the required amount of the energy being greater than the amount of available PV energy at the first time, determine that the current water temperature is less than or equal to the normal lower threshold heat point;
- in response to the current water temperature being less than or equal to the normal lower threshold heat point, determine that the amount of the available PV energy is greater than or equal to the required amount of the energy at a second time;
- and
- in response to the amount of the available PV energy being greater than or equal to the required amount of the energy at the second time, set the switch to transfer PV energy from the PV system to a heating device of the water heater, until the current water temperature is greater than or equal to the set point temperature, and to not transfer energy from the utility system to the heating device.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.