Water heater and method of operating a water heater
AssigneeA. O. Smith Corporation
InventorBrian T. Branecky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water heater that includes a tank for holding water, a heat source, a temperature sensor, a communication module operable to communicate with an external controller remote from the water heater, and a controller including a processor and a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to operate the water heater. The communication module receives commands from the external controller for further operating the water heater.
Claims40
A water heater comprising:
- a tank for holding water;
- a first heating element extending into the tank;
- a second heating element extending into the tank;
- a first temperature sensor thermally coupled to the water;
- a second temperature sensor thermally coupled to the water;
- a communication module operable to communicate with an external controller remote from the water heater;
- and
- a controller including a processor and a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to
- determine a first temperature value related to a first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor,
- determine a second temperature value related to a second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor,
- receive a command from the external controller,
- when the received command is a first command,
- control current to the first heating element based on the first temperature value traversing a first set point, and
- control current to the second heating element based on the second temperature value traversing a second set point, and
- when the received command is a second command,
- control current only to the first heating element and not the second heating element, the control being based on the first temperature value.
A water heater comprising:
- a tank for holding water;
- a first heating element extending into the tank;
- a second heating element extending into the tank;
- a first temperature sensor thermally coupled to the water;
- a second temperature sensor thermally coupled to the water;
- a communication module operable to communicate with an external controller remote from the water heater;
- and
- a controller including a processor and a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to
- determine a first temperature value related to a first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor,
- determine a second temperature value related to a second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor,
- receive a command and a ratio from the external controller, and
- when the received command is a first command,
- provide a plurality of slot time periods,
- provide a random number, which is limited by the number of the plurality of slot time periods,
- control current to the first heating element and the second heating element under a first strategy for a first group of slot time periods based on the random number and the ratio, and
- control current to the first heating element and the second heating element under a second strategy for a second group of slot time periods based on the random number and the ratio.
A method of operating a water heater to be placed at a consumer location and to be in communication with an external controller, the water heater including a tank for holding water, a first heating element extending into the tank, a second heating element extending into the tank, a first temperature sensor coupled to the tank, and a second temperature sensor coupled to the tank, the method comprising:
- sensing a first temperature with the first temperature sensor;
- determining a first temperature value related to the first temperature;
- sensing a second temperature with the second temperature sensor;
- determining a second temperature value related to the second temperature;
- receiving a command from the external controller;
- when the received command is a first command,
- controlling current to the first heating element based on the first temperature value traversing a first set point, and
- controlling current to the second heating element based on the second temperature value traversing a second set point;
- and
- when the received command is a second command,
- controlling current only to the first heating element and not the second heating element, the controlling being based on the first temperature value.
A method of operating a water heater to be placed at a consumer location and to be in communication with an external controller, the water heater including a tank for holding water, a first heating element extending into the tank, a second heating element extending into the tank, a first temperature sensor coupled to the tank, and a second temperature sensor coupled to the tank, the method comprising:
- sensing a first temperature with the first temperature sensor;
- determining a first temperature value related to the first temperature;
- sensing a second temperature with the second temperature sensor;
- determining a second temperature value related to the second temperature;
- receiving a command and a ratio from the external controller;
- and
- when the received command is a first command,
- providing a plurality of slot time periods,
- providing a random number, which is limited by the number of the plurality of slot time periods,
- controlling current to the first heating element and the second heating element under a first strategy for a first group of slot time periods based on the random number and the ratio, and
- controlling current to the first heating element and the second heating element under a second strategy for a second group of slot time periods based on the random number and the ratio.
A method of operating a water heater to be placed at a consumer location and to be in communication with an external controller, the water heater including a tank for holding water, a heat source, and a temperature sensor coupled to the tank, the method comprising:
- sensing a temperature with the temperature sensor;
- determining a temperature value related to the temperature;
- receiving a command and a ratio from the external controller;
- and
- when the received command is a first command,
- providing a plurality of slot time periods,
- providing a random number, which is limited by the number of the plurality of slot time periods,
- controlling the heat source under a first strategy for a first group of slot time periods based on the random number and the ratio, and
- controlling the heat source under a second strategy for a second group of slot time periods based on the random number and the ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.