Water heater and methods for operating the same
AssigneeBradford White Corporation
InventorsJohn Adams, Benjamin DeJager
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water heater includes at least one heating system for heating water. Control circuitry is configured to determine electrical parameters of individual components of the at least one heating system. The electrical parameters are utilized to determine operating conditions of the water heater. The operating conditions can be utilized to control at least some aspect of the water heater.
Claims20
A water heater, comprising:
- a tank for holding water;
- a resistance heating element;
- a heat pump including a compressor that compresses refrigerant of the heat pump and a fan that draws air to a heat exchanger of the heat pump;
- voltage detection circuitry that communicates a first signal indicative of a system voltage;
- current detection circuitry that communicates a second signal indicative of a current drawn by the heat pump and the resistance heating element;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- determine a first current to the compressor;
- and
- calculate a second current to the fan based on the first current and the current drawn when the compressor and the fan are both on.
A water heater, comprising:
- a tank for holding water;
- at least one heating system including at least a heat pump having a compressor and a fan that draws air to a heat exchanger of the heat pump;
- current detection circuitry that communicates a signal indicative of a current drawn by the at least one heating system;
- and
- control circuitry configured to determine a first current to the compressor and a second current to the fan based on the signal.
A method for determining current to a fan of a heat pump of a water heater using a single current sensor that detects current drawn by a combination of the fan and a compressor of the water heater, the method comprising:
- communicating, via the current sensor, a signal indicative of a current drawn by the heat pump;
- determining a first current to the compressor;
- and
- determining a second current to the fan based on the first current and the current drawn when the compressor and the fan are both on.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.