Method of controlling the temperature of water in a water heater
OwnerKenneth A. Bradenbaughinventor
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Abstract
A method of controlling the temperature of water in a water heater. The water heater includes a tank for storing water and a heating element capable of being powered by a power source. In one embodiment, the method includes the acts of determining an element characteristic of the heating element, sensing a temperature of the water in the tank, calculating an amount of power to be provided to the heating element based on the element characteristic and water temperature, and transmitting the amount of power from the power source to the heating element.
Claims84
A method of controlling a temperature of water in a water heater including a tank for storing water and a heating element capable of being powered by a power source, the method comprising the acts of:
- determining an element characteristic of the heating element;
- sensing a temperature of the water in the tank;
- calculating an amount of power to be provided to the heating element based at least in part on the element characteristic and water temperature;
- transmitting the amount of power from the power source to the heating element;
- sensing an ambient temperature;
- and
- wherein the act of calculating an amount of power is based at least in part on the ambient temperature.
A method of controlling a temperature of water in a water heater including a tank for storing water and a heating element capable of being powered by a power source, the method comprising the acts of:
- sensing an ambient temperature exterior to the water heater;
- sensing a temperature of the water in the tank;
- calculating an amount of power to be provided to the heating element based at least in part on the ambient temperature and the water temperature;
- and
- transmitting the amount of power from the power source to the heating element.
A method of controlling a temperature of water in a storage-type water heater, the storage-type water heater including a tank for storing water and a heating element capable of being powered by a power source, the method comprising the acts of:
- determining an element characteristic of the heating element;
- establishing a strategy to heat the water, the strategy being based on the element characteristic and including at least two conditions, each condition specifying a ratio of a maximum power deliverable to the heating element, at least one of the ratios being between zero and one hundred percent;
- sensing a temperature of the water in the tank;
- determining an amount of power to be provided to the heating element based on the strategy and the water temperature;
- and
- transmitting the amount of power to the heating element.
A method of controlling a temperature of water in a storage-type water heater, the storage-type water heater including a tank for storing water and a heating element capable of being powered by a power source, the method comprising the acts of:
- determining a tank characteristic of the tank;
- establishing a strategy to heat the water, the strategy being based on the tank characteristic and including at least two conditions, each condition specifying a ratio of a maximum power deliverable to the heating element, at least one of the ratios being between zero and one hundred percent;
- sensing a temperature of the water in the tank;
- determining an amount of power to be provided to the heating element based on the strategy and the water temperature;
- and
- transmitting the amount of power to the heating element.
A method of controlling a temperature of water in a storage-type water heater, the storage-type water heater including a tank for storing water, a heating element capable of being powered by a power source, and a memory having a heating strategy, the heating strategy including at least two conditions, each condition specifying a ratio of a maximum power deliverable to the heating element, at least one of the ratios being between zero and one hundred percent, the method comprising the acts of:
- sensing a temperature of the water in the tank;
- determining the ratio of the maximum power to be provided by the heating element based on the heating strategy and the water temperature;
- and
- transmitting an amount of power corresponding to the determined ratio to the heating element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.