A system and approach for developing a periodic water usage profile and demand for controlling a water heater. A mode may be selected for demand for a certain amount of water of a particular temperature range to be available for use from the water heater. Data on hot water usage may be collected and the usage profile and demand may be calculated from the data. The water heater may be programmed to operate in a certain fashion based on the usage profile and demand. A control knob may be on the water heater control to select a particular demand. Control of the water heater may be operated from a remote device connected in a wireless or wired fashion. An optimization program may be implemented in the control of the water heater for achieving one or more beneficial goals related to water heater performance and hot water production.

An apparatus includes a high-pressure tank, a controller, a valve, controlled by the controller, and a heater.

A water heater includes an inner water tube coil and an outer water tube coil separated by a drum baffle. The inner and outer coils extend above a top edge of the drum baffle by at least a full turn of each coil. A flue gas bypass path is defined between a top edge of the drum baffle and a top insulation layer above the inner and outer coils. Flue gases flow radially though the inner coil, up along the drum baffle, through the flue gas bypass path, and downwardly over the outer coil to heat water flowing through the inner and outer coils. The water flows into the outer coil at the bottom of the coil, winds upwardly through the outer coil in countercurrent flow with respect to the flue gases, then down through the inner coil.

A fluid discharge event detection apparatus measures a change in capacitance to detect the presence of a fluid in a sensing conduit where the presence of fluid indicates a discharge event. The apparatus includes a first conduit, the sensing conduit and a control valve, coupled between the first conduit and the sensing conduit. The control valve is configured to activate and fluidly couple the first conduit and the sensing conduit to one another when the control valve detects at least one predetermined condition of a fluid within the first conduit. A sensor, configured to measure a capacitance value, is disposed about the sensing conduit. A controller, coupled to the sensor, is configured to detect a change in the sensing conduit capacitance value and assert an alarm condition upon detection of the change in the sensing conduit capacitance value.

The disclosed technology includes an on-demand water heater which uses an electric heat source to heat the water. The on-demand water heater can have a low fluid capacity heating chamber which has an inlet and an outlet, an electric heat source for heating the water, and a controller to control the electric heat source and maintain the temperature of the water at a predetermined temperature setting. The on-demand water heater can be powered by a direct current power source. The on-demand water heater can also utilize a solar thermal system to provide additional heat to the water.

Methods and systems are provided for remotely controlling a plurality of heating devices in one or more sites having a fossil fuel-based heating device and an electrical heating device. An example method involves operating a management processor to determine whether a current system supply is greater than a current system demand. In response to determining that the current system supply is greater than the current system demand, the management processor identifies at least one site to receive an opportunity to use electrical heating and transmits an opportunity signal to the local controller of the at least one site. The method can also involve operating each local controller to receive the opportunity signal from the management processor and generate one or more signals to control an operation the fossil fuel-based heating device or the electrical heating device of the site based in part on the opportunity signal.

Methods and systems are provided for remotely controlling a plurality of heating devices in one or more sites having a fossil fuel-based heating device and an electrical heating device. An example method involves operating a management processor to determine whether a current system supply is greater than a current system demand. In response to determining that the current system supply is greater than the current system demand, the management processor identifies at least one site to receive an opportunity to use electrical heating and transmits an opportunity signal to the local controller of the at least one site. The method can also involve operating each local controller to receive the opportunity signal from the management processor and generate one or more signals to control an operation the fossil fuel-based heating device or the electrical heating device of the site based in part on the opportunity signal.

A hot water supply device (10) is provided with: a first device (for example, a kitchen remote controller (13)) for performing control relating to hot water supply; a second device (for example, a water heater (11)) that is communicably connected to the first device and performs control relating to hot water supply; and a communication unit that is provided in the first device and can be connected to an external communication network. The first device divides data of control software of the second device acquired from an external device (for example, a server (50)) via the communication unit, into a plurality of parts, and transmits to the second device.

An electric integrated circuit water heater apparatus includes: a cold water inlet for allowing input of cold water into a storage tank with heating elements comprised of integrated circuits configured to exchange heat from the heating elements to the water in the storage tank through a heat exchanger, in which heat produced by running the integrated circuits is recovered into the heat exchanger, thereby heating the stored water by using heat from the integrated circuits. A hot water outlet is provided in the upper portion of storage tank such that the water will have passed all of the heating elements prior to exiting the hot water outlet.

A fluid sensor system detects one or more performance characteristics of a heating system that heats a fluid. The sensor system includes a probe having a finite length a portion of which is to be immersed in the fluid. The probe includes a resistive heating element and a fluid temperature sensor for measuring one or more performance characteristics, wherein the fluid temperature sensor is configured to measure a fluid temperature, and the resistive heating element is operable as a heater to create a temperature differential between the fluid and air to detect the fluid, and as a sensor to measure a fluid level.