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US 2026/0298499 A1Published application
Machine learning of heat pump system water usage patterns for optimized heat pump performance
AssigneeBradford White Corporation
InventorsLolke Vorsteveld, Aaron M. Lord
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air to water heat pump system is configured to minimize operating cost of the system utilizing one or more of hot water demand patterns, present or predicted ambient conditions, and/or electrical power cost. The system may be configured to reduce production and/or storage of hot water during periods of low demand, and increase production and storage of hot or hotter water immediately prior to a period of predicted high demand for hot water. The system may be configured to take into account ambient weather conditions to increase production and storage of hot water during favorable ambient conditions, and/or to increase production and storage of hot water prior to predicted cold ambient conditions.
Claims20
A heat pump water heater system for heating water that is supplied to a hot water system of a building, the heat pump water heater system comprising:
- an air-to-water heat pump that heats water utilizing a heat exchanger that is exposed to ambient air;
- a hot water tank system that is configured to receive and store hot water that is produced by the heat pump;
- at least six temperature sensors that are configured to measure water temperatures in the hot water tank system such that a volume of hot water in the hot water tank system at or above a measured temperature can be estimated to within 20% of an actual volume of hot water in the hot water tank system at or above the measured temperature;
- a controller that is operably connected to the heat pump, the hot water tank system, and the at least six temperature sensors, wherein the controller is configured to utilize machine learning to identify and predict patterns of hot water demand of the hot water system of a building, wherein at least one pattern includes a period of increased demand during which demand for hot water is greater than demand for hot water during a period preceding the period of increased demand;
- and
- the controller is configured to adjust a volume and/or a temperature of hot water produced by the heat pump and/or stored in the hot water tank system based, at least in part, on a predicted period of increased demand to:
- 1) ensure that sufficient hot water is available to satisfy the demand for hot water during a predicted period of increased demand;
- and/or to:
- 2) reduce a cost of supplying hot water to satisfy the demand for hot water during a predicted period of increased demand;
- and/or to:
- 3) increase efficiency during a predicted period of increased demand.
8 more elements
A heat pump water heater system for heating water that is supplied to a hot water system of a building, the heat pump water heater system comprising:
- an air-to-water heat pump that heats water utilizing a heat exchanger that is exposed to ambient air;
- a hot water tank system that is configured to receive and store hot water that is produced by the heat pump;
- at least six temperature sensors that are configured to measure water temperatures in the hot water tank system such that a volume of hot water in the hot water tank system at or above a measured temperature can be estimated to within 20% of an actual volume of hot water in the hot water tank system at or above the measured temperature;
- a controller that is operably connected to the heat pump, the hot water tank system, and the at least six temperature sensors, wherein the controller is configured to utilize machine learning to identify and predict patterns of hot water demand of the hot water system of a building, wherein at least one pattern includes a period of increased demand during which demand for hot water is greater than demand for hot water during a period preceding the period of increased demand;
- and
- the controller is configured to adjust a volume and/or a temperature of hot water produced by the heat pump and/or stored in the hot water tank system based, at least in part, on a predicted period of increased demand to:
- 1) ensure that sufficient hot water is available to satisfy the demand for hot water during a predicted period of increased demand;
- and/or to:
- 2) reduce a cost of supplying hot water to satisfy the demand for hot water during a predicted period of increased demand;
- and/or to:
- 3) increase efficiency during a predicted period of increased demand, wherein the efficiency of the heat pump is a function of ambient air temperature.
8 more elements
A heat pump water heater system for heating water that is supplied to a hot water system of a building, the heat pump water heater system comprising:
- an air-to-water heat pump that heats water utilizing a heat exchanger that is exposed to ambient air;
- a hot water tank system that is configured to receive and store hot water that is produced by the heat pump;
- at least six temperature sensors that are configured to measure water temperatures in the hot water tank system such that a volume of hot water in the hot water tank system at or above a measured temperature can be estimated to within 20% of an actual volume of hot water in the hot water tank system at or above the measured temperature;
- a controller that is operably connected to the heat pump, the hot water tank system, and the at least six temperature sensors, wherein the controller is configured to utilize machine learning to identify and predict patterns of hot water demand of the hot water system of a building, wherein at least one pattern includes a period of increased demand during which demand for hot water is greater than demand for hot water during a period preceding the period of increased demand;
- and
- the controller is configured to adjust a volume and/or a temperature of hot water produced by the heat pump and/or stored in the hot water tank system based, at least in part, on a predicted period of increased demand to:
- 1) ensure that sufficient hot water is available to satisfy the demand for hot water during a predicted period of increased demand;
- and/or to:
- 2) reduce a cost of supplying hot water to satisfy the demand for hot water during a predicted period of increased demand;
- and/or to:
- 3) increase efficiency during a predicted period of increased demand, wherein the machine learning of the controller is configured to receive predicted ambient temperature data and adjust a temperature and/or a volume of hot water stored in the hot water tank system to reduce a cost of energy required to increase the temperature and/or volume of hot water stored in the hot water tank system during a load up cycle.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.