F24H15/12

Device and methodology for early detection of fluid loss and notification and system shutdown for a closed loop fluid heat transfer system
20210231314 · 2021-07-29 · ·

A hydronic system and method of use that will maintain normal system operating pressure while also reliably detecting even very small fluid losses in any closed loop fluid heat transfer system is described. The system includes a controller in communication with one or more pressure sensors and optionally one or more temperature sensors that provides one or more notifications when the pressure drops below predetermined levels.

Estimation of temperature states for an electric water heater from inferred resistance measurement

A water heater that includes a cylindrical storage tank and at least one heating element, is modeled using a one-dimensional model that includes: a vertical stack of disks representing the water volume in the cylindrical storage tank, and a stack of annular segments surrounding the vertical stack of disks. Various temperature measurements are determined via resistance calculations of the at least one heating element. The stack of annular segments represents the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical storage tank. The one-dimensional model may be used by a condition-based maintenance system comprising an electronic data processing device configured to detect a failure mode present in the water heater based on an output of the water heating model component. Some illustrative failure modes include insulation disturbance, heating element failure, excessive sediment buildup, or a drip tube rupture.

Water heater blower leakage detection
11079139 · 2021-08-03 · ·

Methods and systems for determining a possible leak within a gas water heater. One system is a gas water heater including a blower and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to activate the blower for a predetermined amount of time, receive, during the predetermined amount of time, a measurement of a characteristic of the blower, perform a comparison between the measurement and a predetermined characteristic threshold, and determine, based on the comparison, that a blockage is present within the water heater. The electronic processor is further configured to output a notification in response to determining the blockage is present.

INDICATOR GENERATING METHOD AND PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE METHOD FOR FAILURE PREDICTION FOR A WATER HEATING SYSTEM, SUCH WATER HEATING SYSTEM, AND BEVERAGE MAKER

An indicator generating method for generating an indicator which is suitable for maintenance prediction of a water heating system is proposed. A power state indication device generates a high power consumption signal if a heating device of the water heating system is activated. The time duration of the activation is such an indicator, if no water flow is present. Furthermore, the time interval between subsequent activations is such an indicator. A predictive maintenance method processes these condition-based indicators and determines a remaining useful lifetime according to a predictive maintenance model. The predictive maintenance device outputs a maintenance signal indicating required maintenance, if the remaining useful lifetime drops below a predetermined threshold. The methods may be performed by water heating systems or beverage makers.

WATER HEATER CONTROLLER AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING WATER TEMPERATURE
20210123634 · 2021-04-29 ·

Techniques regarding water heating control and hot water tanks are provided herein. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can regard a device or system for water tank heating regulation. The system can comprise a processor that executes computer executable components stored in a memory. The system can also comprise a mounting component that couples the system to a thermostat of a water heater. The system can further comprise an adapter component that attaches to a temperature adjustor of the thermostat; and a configuration component of the computer executable components that, when enabled by the processor, causes the adapter component to move the temperature adjustor make a temperature change at the thermostat.

Boiler with gas sensing and earthquake sensing function and control method thereof
10928099 · 2021-02-23 · ·

The present invention relates to a boiler having a gas sensing and an earthquake sensing function and a control method thereof, in which a gas leakage and an earthquake occurrence are automatically sensed and thus the boiler is forcibly stopped by causing fuel supply thereto to be cut off. The present invention is configured to cause fuel supply to the boiler to be cut off by comprehensively determining whether gas is leaking from the boiler and whether an earthquake has occurred at the present time, thereby minimizing loss of life due to the gas leakage and the earthquake occurrence.

LEAKAGE DETECTION IN CONDENSING WATER HEATER
20210048364 · 2021-02-18 ·

A water heater system includes a gas burner configured to selectively produce flue gases, and a heat exchanger for heating water in the water heater system. The water heater system is operable in a heating mode, and a standby mode. An exhaust assembly is in communication with the heat exchanger, and includes a condensate collector configured to receive the flue gases and condensate. A first temperature sensor is positioned to sense a temperature of the condensate within the condensate collector. The first temperature sensor is configured to detect a rate of temperature change of the condensate. A controller is configured to determine a leakage when the rate of temperature change adjusts from a first state to a second state when the water heater system is in the standby mode after the water heater system was in the heating mode.

CIRCUIT FOR DETECTING A LEAK IN A WATER HEATER DEVICE AND ACTIVATING AN ALARM DEVICE
20210048224 · 2021-02-18 ·

This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for outputting an alarm signal in response to detecting a leak in a water heater device. For example, a water heater device includes a leak sensor, an intermittent pilot light, and a circuit. The circuit includes processing circuitry configured to receive, from the leak sensor, an electrical signal including information indicative of a leak in the water heater device, activate, based on the electrical signal including information indicative of the leak, an alarm device, where the alarm device is powered for at least a period of time by a power source, where the power source is configured to receive energy from a thermoelectric device, and maintain an amount of energy stored by the power source so that the amount of energy is sufficient for the power source to supply energy to the alarm device.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS
20230417453 · 2023-12-28 · ·

[Object] To provide a temperature control apparatus that has a high degree of freedom in designing a heat exchanger and that is excellent in versatility in terms of the temperature of a circulating liquid even when a high-temperature circulating liquid is used.

[Solution] A temperature control apparatus 1 includes a circulation circuit 12 that delivers a circulating liquid from the main tank 5 to a load that is external and returns the circulating liquid received from the load to the main tank again, a cooling circuit 25 that cools the circulating liquid delivered from a sub-tank 20 with a heat exchanger 33 and returns the circulating liquid to the sub-tank again, and a control unit 40 that controls the flow rate of the circulating liquid flowing through the cooling circuit. The sub-tank is connected to the main tank so as to be capable of leading excessive circulating liquid out of the main tank. A second cooling flow passage 27 of the cooling circuit includes a connecting flow passage 28 that branches from the second cooling flow passage 27 and that is connected to the main tank. A first temperature sensor 61 is provided in the circulation circuit to measure the temperature of the circulating liquid. The control unit controls the output of a cooling pump 55 provided in the cooling circuit on the basis of the measured temperature of the circulating liquid received from the first temperature sensor and controls the flow rate of the circulating liquid from the cooling circuit to the circulation circuit.

Water Heaters With Real-Time Hot Water Supply Determination
20210033286 · 2021-02-04 ·

A water heating system can include a water heater having a tank, and a first temperature sensor disposed toward a top end of the tank to measure a first temperature and a second temperature sensor disposed toward a bottom end of the tank to measure a second temperature. The water heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, where the controller determines an amount of heated water in the tank based on a plurality of algorithms and measurements made by the first and second temperature sensors. The plurality of algorithms solves for at least one calculated temperature for at least one point between a first location of the first temperature sensor and a second location of the second temperature sensor, where the at least one calculated temperature is used to determine the amount of heated water in the tank.