Electric fluid heater
AssigneeDigital Heat Ltd.
InventorMatthew White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a partially or wholly electric fluid heater (1) arranged to heat fluid in a first circuit, the fluid comprising heating fluid or tap water. The heater comprises a first electric heating element (8) arranged to heat fluid in the first circuit. The first heating element is arranged to be powered by both an AC power supply (22) and a DC power supply (20). The heater also comprises a controller (24) arranged to control distribution of power to the first heating element from the DC power supply and the AC power supply.
Claims20
A partially or wholly electric fluid heater arranged to heat fluid in a first circuit, the fluid comprising heating fluid or tap water, wherein the heater comprises a fluid heater housing arranged to house:
- a first electric heating element arranged to heat fluid in the first circuit, wherein the first heating element is arranged to be powered by both an AC power supply and a DC power supply having a capacity of at least 1 kWh;
- a controller arranged to control distribution of power to the first heating element from the DC power supply and the AC power supply, wherein the controller comprises or is operatively connected to a power switching module arranged to vary power delivered to the first electric heating element by switching currents of 30 amps or more;
- and
- a cooling system arranged to provide active cooling to the controller;
- wherein the heater further comprises a battery charging mechanism, in communication with the controller, wherein the battery charging mechanism is arranged to charge the DC power supply taking into account instantaneous demand for heating water or tap water;
- wherein the controller is arranged to control combining of the outputs from the AC power supply and the DC power supply, and
- wherein the controller is arranged to vary relative distribution of the combined outputs from the AC power supply and the DC power supply, taking into account one or more of:
- capacity of the or each heating element;
- capacity of the or each power supply;
- instantaneous demand for heating water or tap water;
- forecasted demand for heating water or tap water;
- and
- instantaneous or forecasted available supply type.
A method of heating a fluid in a partially or wholly electric fluid heater arranged to heat fluid in a first circuit, the fluid comprising heating fluid or tap water, wherein the heater comprises a fluid heater housing arranged to house:
- a first electric heating element arranged to heat fluid in the first circuit, wherein the first heating element is arranged to be powered by both an AC power supply and a DC power supply having a capacity of at least 1 kWh;
- a controller arranged to control distribution of power to the first heating element from the DC power supply and the AC power supply, wherein the controller comprises or is operatively connected to a power switching module arranged to vary power delivered to the first electric heating element by switching currents of 30 amps or more;
- and
- a cooling system arranged to provide cooling to the controller;
- the method comprising:
- controlling the distribution of power to the first heating element from the DC power supply and the AC power supply, and optionally solely by either the DC power supply or the AC power supply at any given moment;
- wherein the heater further comprises a battery charging mechanism, in communication with the controller, wherein the battery charging mechanism is arranged to charge the DC power supply taking into account instantaneous demand for heating water or tap water;
- wherein the controller is arranged to control combining of the outputs from the AC power supply and the DC power supply, and
- wherein the controller is arranged to vary relative distribution of the combined outputs from the AC power supply and the DC power supply, taking into account one or more of:
- capacity of the or each heating element;
- capacity of the or each power supply;
- instantaneous demand for heating water or tap water;
- forecasted demand for heating water or tap water;
- and
- instantaneous or forecasted available supply type.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.