The metal tank portion of an electric water heater is protected against corrosion utilizing a corrosion protection system that detects a voltage potential between the sheath portion of a tank water-immersed electric heating element and the tank. In one embodiment of the corrosion protection system the sensed sheath/tank potential is utilized to enable a user of the water heater to accurately gauge the necessity of replacing a sacrificial anode extending into the tank. In another corrosion protection system, the sensed sheath/tank potential is utilized to provide impressed current cathodic protection of the tank and also to prevent dry firing of the electric water heater.

A process for chemical cleaning and corrosion inhibition of pipework, typically in closed loop systems, that avoids or significantly minimises the requirement for wastewater discharge where the system is first acidified using a mixture of cleaning agents capable of dissolving metal oxides. The method then precipitates any dissolved contaminants and separates the precipitate from the carrying fluid. Further elements of a combined corrosion inhibitor package are then added to any cleaning agent ions that remain in solution to develop a fully functional corrosion inhibition package to protect the metals of the system.

A device, system, and a method are provided for notifying a user to replace a sacrificial anode in a pool or spa system. The device is provided in the form of a body defining a cavity, a sacrificial anode, and a sensor. The sacrificial anode substantially surrounds the cavity when the sacrificial anode is coupled to the body. The sensor is at least partially received into the cavity and is in communication with a pool automation system. The sensor is designed to transmit a signal to the pool automation system when the sensor detects water within the cavity. The signal is processed by the pool automation system, and the pool automation system may then transmit a notification to a user that the sacrificial anode is depleted.

A sacrificial anode for a water heater system is provided. The anode may comprise a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage running longitudinally between the distal and proximal end. A first current carrying lead and a first voltage lead may be connected to the distal end of the anode, while a second current carrying lead a second voltage lead may be connected to the proximal end of the anode. The first current carrying lead and first voltage lead may be connected to the distal end of the anode in such a manner that the leads may be fed through the passage of the anode and protrude from the proximal end of the anode. A method of determining the health of a sacrificial anode is further provided, which involves utilizing the resistance drop across the anode to determine the radius of the anode during use.

A water heater can include a heat source and a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the water. A header attached to the heat exchanger provides an inlet and an outlet for water to flow into and out of the heat exchanger. The header can also include an anode assembly that releasably attaches to the header. The anode assembly can be located at a bottom of the header so that an anode in the anode assembly remains in contact with the water when water is flowing through the heat exchanger.

A water heater can include a heat source and a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the water. A header attached to the heat exchanger provides an inlet and an outlet for water to flow into and out of the heat exchanger. The header can also include an anode assembly that releasably attaches to the header. The anode assembly can be located at a bottom of the header so that an anode in the anode assembly remains in contact with the water when water is flowing through the heat exchanger.

An improved anode rod assembly for removing corrosive elements from the water of the tank. The improved anode rod assembly is useful for providing a longer life span for water heater units. Further, an exemplary water intake assembly is presented. The water intake assembly is useful, it provides an extra port so that more anodes can be inserted into the tank. Also having the dip tube at the very bottom of the tank provides more hot water and increases the efficiency of the water heater. Having multiple anodes will give an indefinite life span for the water heater.

A heat exchanger management system and a method of operating the heat exchanger management system. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger management system includes a memory and an electronic processor electrically connected to the memory and configured to operate one or more burners to transmit heat to a heat exchanger for a first period of time that deposits corrosive condensates on a passivation layer of the heat exchanger, deactivate the one or more burners for a second period of time, operate one or more blowers to move air across the heat exchanger at a temperature that evaporates the corrosive condensates on the passivation layer of the heat exchanger and increases an oxide thickness of the passivation layer on the heat exchanger, and reactivate the one or more burners after the second period of time.

The invention relates to heat engineering, power engineering and the field of electric heating of liquids, water for instance; it can be used in circulation water heating systems and hot water supply, and as a universal device for diverse electric heaters. An object of the invention are to enhance the ease of fabrication, fabricability, and operability for block electrodes and electrode heating boilers on the whole, to increase the reliability of device both in static and dynamic modes ones. The invention meets an object of extended performance capabilities, versatility and flexibility of the device, potential diversification and enhancement of adaptability in solving particular problems. Moreover, the invention allows improvement of convection in water heating boilers and reduction of uniformity of sludge and rust deposition on electrodes thus increasing the heater effective performance time. The invention object comprises an improvement of protection against breakdowns between the electrodes as well, phase current load imbalance reduction, electrode protection against non-uniform deformation during operation in dynamic conditions. It is also an object of the invention to extend i the range of constructional capacity control without design and dimensional changes. FIG. 2 provides a schematic of electrodes (1) arrangement on the basis (3) located on the inner case (2) side with electrodes (1) slightly deviating from the longitudinal symmetric axis of the case (2) and irregularly spaced on the basis, electrode longitudinal axes deviating from each other at small angles. (4)—outer electrode terminals (1).

A water heater monitoring and notification method includes determining, by a controller of a water heater system, a deviation of a duration of a pre-purge operation from a pre-purge duration average value. The method further includes determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a flame current from a flame current average value and determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) parameter from a PWM parameter average value. The method also includes providing a notification related to a combustion system of the water heater system based on at least the deviation of the duration of the pre-purge operation from the pre-purge duration average value, the deviation of the flame current from the flame current average value, and the deviation of the PWM parameter from the PWM parameter average value.