# US 12,222,702 B2 · Modulating pool or spa heater systems and associated methods

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- Number: US 12,222,702 B2
- Document ID: US12222702B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/832,454
- Filed: 2022-06-03
- Published: 2022-12-08
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-06-03
- Assignees: Hayward Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: Hayward Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: William Julian Roy; Troy Renken
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222702B2

## CPC

- E04H 4/129: {Systems for heating the water content of swimming pools (solar collectors using pools F24S10/17, F24S10/10; by solar radiation F24S20/02)}
- G05B 19/4155: characterised by program execution, i.e. part program or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a program
- A61H 33/005: {Electrical circuits therefor}
- A61H 33/063: {Heaters specifically designed therefor}
- A61H 2033/0079: {using remote control signal transmission devices, e.g. ultrasonic, infrared}
- A61H 2201/5007: computer controlled
- A61H 2201/5012: using the internet
- A61H 2201/5082: Temperature sensors
- G05B 2219/50333: Temperature
- E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

A modulating heater system for a pool or spa includes a pool or spa heater capable of variably modulating energy output thereof and a controller communicatively coupled thereto. The controller determines a predicted load based on a previous load, ambient and water temperatures, and estimated pool/spa size, and determines an overshoot setpoint for an operational mode. The controller establishes a target temperature setpoint for the mode and receives a current water temperature. The controller determines whether the overshoot setpoint plus target temperature setpoint is greater than the current water temperature, and determines an error based thereon. The controller determines if the error is less than or greater than a target for the mode, and, based on this determination, determines a heater modulation rate for the mode taking into account the mode, maximum heater output, and available fuel supply. The controller controls the heater to operate at the determined modulation rate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modulating heater system for a pool or spa, comprising:
a pool or spa heater in fluidic communication with water of a pool or spa, the heater capable of variably modulating energy output thereof to heat the water of the pool or spa; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the pool or spa heater, the controller configured to:
determine a predicted load based on a previous load, a current ambient temperature, a current water temperature, and an estimated pool or spa size;
determine a temperature overshoot setpoint for a mode of operation;
establish a target water temperature setpoint for the pool or spa water for the mode of operation;
receive a current water temperature of the pool or spa water from a temperature sensor;
determine if the temperature overshoot setpoint for the mode of operation plus the target water temperature setpoint for the mode of operation is greater than the current water temperature;
determine an error value based on the temperature overshoot setpoint for the mode of operation, the target water temperature setpoint for the mode of operation, and the current water temperature, where the error value is determined as the temperature overshoot setpoint plus the target water temperature setpoint minus the current water temperature;
determine if the error value is less than a target value for the mode of operation;
determine a first modulation rate for the pool or spa heater for the mode of operation if the error value is determined to be less than the target value, the first modulation rate being determined based at least on the mode of operation;
determine a second modulation rate for the pool or spa heater for the mode of operation if the error value is determined to be greater than the target value, the second modulation rate being a maximum modulation rate determined based on a maximum output of the pool or spa heater, an available fuel supply, and the mode of operation; and
control the pool or spa heater to operate at one of the first modulation rate and the second modulation rate.