Method and system for controlling an intermittent pilot water heater system

A water heater comprising:

• a water tank;
• a burner;
• a pilot for igniting the burner;
• art ignitor for igniting the pilot;
• a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot;
• a rechargeable power storage device;
• a controller operatively coupled to the burner, the pilot, the ignitor, the thermoelectric device and the rechargeable power storage device;
• the rechargeable power storage device configured to supply power to the ignitor and the controller, the rechargeable power storage device is rechargeable using energy produced by the thermoelectric device;
• the controller is configured to:
• control the pilot and the burner to maintain the temperature of water in the water tank between a lower temperature setpoint threshold and an upper temperature setpoint threshold;
• detect when the rechargeable power storage device has a charge that has fallen below a charge threshold, and in response, control the pilot and the burner to fully recharge the rechargeable power storage device while maintaining the temperature of water in the water tank between the lower temperature setpoint threshold and the upper temperature setpoint threshold.

A method for controlling a water heater, the water heater including a water tank, a burner, a pilot for igniting the burner, an ignitor for igniting the pilot, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot, a controller, and a rechargeable power storage device for supplying power to the ignitor and the controller, the rechargeable power storage device is rechargeable using energy produced by the thermoelectric device, the method comprising:

• storing a lower water usage period and a higher water usage period;
• detecting when the rechargeable power storage device has a charge that has fallen below a charge threshold;
• when the rechargeable power storage device has a charge that has not fallen below a charge threshold, and during both the lower water usage period and the higher usage period:
• running the pilot and the burner to heat the water in the water tank when the temperature of the water in the water tank falls to a lower temperature setpoint threshold;
• not running the pilot or the burner when the temperature of the water in the water tank rises to an upper temperature setpoint threshold;
• when the rechargeable power storage device has a charge that has fallen below a charge threshold.
• during the high water usage period:
• running the pilot and the burner to heat the water in the water tank when the temperature of the water in the water tank falls to a lower temperature setpoint threshold;
• not running the pilot or the burner when the temperature of the water in the water lank rises to an upper temperature set point threshold;
• during the lower water usage period:
• when the temperature of the water in the water tank is at or above the lower temperature setpoint threshold and below the upper temperature setpoint threshold, running the pilot hut not the burner to heal the water in the water tank for a first heating segment toward the upper temperature setpoint threshold.