A water heater system includes a water tank and a flow-through heating assembly. The water tank contains heated water. The flow-through heating assembly may extend into the water tank and heats water as water is passed through an interior channel of the flow-through heating assembly. In one embodiment, the flow through heater assembly is a thermosiphonic heater having a hollow body and a heating element extending therein such that an annular recess is defined between an interior surface of the hollow body and the external surface of the heating element.

A device for controlling a water heater comprises a touch interface containing five water temperature modes; a capacitive touch unit including a touch sensing circuit, wherein the capacitive touch unit is configured to the touch interface for sensing user touch; a controller connected to the capacitive touch unit, wherein the controller is configured to switch at once among five water temperature modes according to preset sequence when touch interface senses user touch and sends touch signal; wherein one of five-water temperature modes comprises a water temperature without heating function each of remaining four water temperature modes corresponds to temperature range, and temperature range of two adjacent water temperature modes has certain overlaps.

A water heater system includes a water heater and a thermal mixing valve. The water heater includes a tank and a cap that each define interior volumes. The interior volume of the tank includes a heating element is the location where fluid is heated, whereas the cap includes a volume within which the thermal mixing valve may be disposed. The thermal mixing valve pulls cool and warm water from the volume of the tank, and then discharges a mixed stream of fluid at a user desired temperature via an outlet.

A water heater includes a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, a heating element arranged within the hollow body, a cavity formed between a heating surface of the heating element and an interior surface of the hollow body, an outlet tube, and an adapter sleeve. The outlet tube extends externally from the outlet of the hollow body towards the inlet of the hollow body for depositing heated fluid within the fluid tank, wherein the outlet tube is in fluid communication with the inlet of the hollow body. The adapter sleeve arranged at a lower end of the hollow body, wherein the inlet of the hollow body is arranged in the adapter sleeve.

A water heater includes a hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, a heating element arranged within the hollow body, a cavity formed between a heating surface of the heating element and an interior surface of the hollow body, an outlet tube, and an adapter sleeve. The outlet tube extends externally from the outlet of the hollow body towards the inlet of the hollow body for depositing heated fluid within the fluid tank, wherein the outlet tube is in fluid communication with the inlet of the hollow body. The adapter sleeve arranged at a lower end of the hollow body, wherein the inlet of the hollow body is arranged in the adapter sleeve.

A hot water delivery system includes a water heater, a mixing valve that is coupled to the output of the water heater, and a plurality of loads that are coupled to the output of the mixing valve. A load set point temperature of each load that is representative of a maximum temperature of the hot water that is to be delivered to the respective load is set by a user. Responsive to detecting the occurrence of an event associated with a load of the plurality of loads, a controller of the water heater controls the mixing valve to adjust the temperature of the hot water from the water heater to the load set point temperature associated with the load, provided the load set point temperature of the load is different from a water heater set point temperature at which the water heater maintains the hot water therein.

A hot water delivery system includes a water heater, a mixing valve that is coupled to the output of the water heater, and a plurality of loads that are coupled to the output of the mixing valve. A load set point temperature of each load that is representative of a maximum temperature of the hot water that is to be delivered to the respective load is set by a user. Responsive to detecting the occurrence of an event associated with a load of the plurality of loads, a controller of the water heater controls the mixing valve to adjust the temperature of the hot water from the water heater to the load set point temperature associated with the load, provided the load set point temperature of the load is different from a water heater set point temperature at which the water heater maintains the hot water therein.

A flow controller for a hot water appliance includes a housing having at least three channels, a branching chamber arranged in the housing and in which the at least three channels debouch, and in which a shut-off valve is arranged with which at least two of the three channels can be closed and left clear. The shut-off valve has an adjustment range with a first extreme position in which a first channel and a second channel of the at least three channels are in flow connection with each other via the branching chamber and in which the first channel and a third channel of the at least three channels are substantially closed off from each other. A hot water appliance can include such a flow controller.

A system for heating water to improve safety and efficiency. The system may have normal operation measured in time. After a time of normal operation, a water temperature setpoint may be checked. If the setpoint is not at a certain level, normal operation may continue. If the setpoint is within the certain level, water temperature may be measured. If the water temperature is less than a desired level, one or more draws of water may be measured for a preset temperature drop. If the draws do not meet the temperature drop, a return to check the setpoint may be made. If the draws meet the temperature drop, the setpoint may be reduced and a time of normal operation may be measured to determine whether a burn cycle occurs within the time. If not, normal operation may continue; but if so, a return to check the setpoint may be made.

A circulating hot water system has a hot water flow circuit defined by pipework leading out from and back to an in-line heater, and including a pump to drive circulation of the hot water. Each of multiple user points has an outflow branch conduit and a return flow branch conduit with a common wall for heat exchange, as does the main flow circuit: the outflow conduit surrounds the return conduit. Water is fed into the system from a pressurized cold water supply main through a check valve. Sensors are used to monitor water temperatures and flow conditions around the system. A programmed control processor can control heating and pumping rates in various regimes, e.g. to maintain system temperature above a predetermined threshold. An isolation valve adapted for concentric double pipes is also described.