Residential hybrid hot water tank and control system therefor

A hybrid residential water heating system, the system comprising:

• a hot water tank which includes a bottom, a top, and sides therebetween to define an interior;
• a combustion chamber within the interior, proximate the bottom and sides, the combustion chamber terminating in a mouth where it connects to the side;
• a gas burner, which is a first heat source and is housed in the combustion chamber;
• a combustion fan located at the mouth of the combustion chamber and in gaseous communication with an ambient environment and the combustion chamber;
• a spiral flue which extends through the interior and is in gaseous communication with the combustion chamber and a chimney, which is located proximate the top of the hot water tank, such that in use, flue gases travel from the combustion chamber upward to the chimney;
• at least one electrical element which is a second heat source and is housed in the interior;
• a thermostat and a temperature sensor;
• and
• a controller which includes a printed circuit board and a microprocessor wherein the microprocessor is configured to modulate the first heat source and the second heat source and is in electronic communication with the thermostat and the temperature sensor.

A hybrid hot water tank, the hybrid hot water tank comprising:

• a tank which includes a bottom, a top, and sides therebetween to define an interior;
• a combustion chamber within the interior, proximate the bottom and sides, the combustion chamber terminating in a mouth where it connects to the side;
• a gas burner, which is a first heat source and is housed in the combustion chamber;
• a combustion fan located at the mouth of the combustion chamber and in gaseous communication with an ambient environment and the combustion chamber;
• a substantially spiral flue which extends through the interior and is in gaseous communication with the combustion chamber and an externally disposed chimney;
• a condensation trap, which is outside the tank and is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber or the flue;
• a controller, the controller configured to control the burner;
• and at least one electrical element which is a second heat source and is housed in the interior and is under control of the controller, wherein the controller includes a processor and a memory, the memory configured to modulate the first heat source and the second heat source based on parameters including one or more of a target temperature, a selected rate of heating, a current system load, a cost of a heat source and an availability of the heat source.