ELECTRIC FLUID HEATING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

An electric fluid heating system is provided. The system includes first and at least second electrically powered heating elements. A fluid path is associated with each of the first and at least second heating elements and arranged such that heat can be transferred from the heating element to fluid containable within the associated fluid path when said heating element is in an operable condition in use. The first and at least second heating elements are independently operable and/or controllable.

Claims

1. An electric fluid heating system, said system including first and at least second electrically powered heating elements, a fluid path associated with each of the first and at least second heating elements and arranged such that heat can be transferred from the heating element to fluid containable within the associated fluid path when said heating element is in at least an operable condition in use, and wherein the first and at least second heating elements are independently operable and/or controllable.

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3. The system according to claim 1 wherein each fluid path is provided adjacent to, is in direct or substantially direct contact with and/or is in abutting relationship with its associated heating element(s); wherein the system includes a unit body and one or more, or each, fluid path is a channel defined around at least part of each heating element; and/or wherein each fluid path follows a curved, substantially curved, spiral, substantially spiral, helix and/or substantially helix path around the heating element with which it is associated.

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6. The system according to claim 1 wherein each or one or more of the fluid paths has valve means or apparatus associated with the same to allow the flow and/or volume of fluid contained and/or flowing through the same to be independently controllable.

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10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system has a main fluid inlet means for allowing fluid to enter the system and a main fluid outlet means for allowing fluid to exit the system in use, wherein fluid conduit means are provided between the main fluid inlet means and the main fluid outlet means and each fluid path communicates with the conduit means via their own fluid inlet means and fluid outlet means.

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12. The system according to claim 1 wherein each or one or more fluid paths are capable of communication or are arranged to selectively communicate with an adjacent fluid path within the system in use.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein each or one or more fluid flow paths, valve means associated with each or said fluid flow paths and/or the heating elements are uniquely identified by identification means so that control means of the system can identify, operate and/or communicate with each or groups of them independently of the others.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein each or two or more heating elements within the system are arranged to be heated and/or powered in sequence and/or in a pulsed condition, such that one or more heating elements are arranged or controlled to be in an on or relatively high power consuming condition when one or more of the other heating elements of the system are arranged or controlled to be in an off or relatively low power consuming condition.

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18. The system according to claim 1 wherein a control means or apparatus is provided for controlling one or more parameters, characteristics and/or functions of the system, the heating elements, the valve means and/or the fluid paths in use; the control means are independently in communication with each fluid path and/or heating element; the control means are used to control one or more other electrical and/or electronic devices separate to and/or independent of the electric fluid heating system; and/or a single control means controls all the heating elements of the system simultaneously or substantially simultaneously.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the control means includes switching means and/or relay means for switching the electrical supply to one or more or all of the heating elements and/or for pulsing the heating elements between on or relatively high power consuming conditions and off or relatively low power consuming conditions.

20. The system according to claim 14 wherein the heating elements are arranged to be pulsed, switched and/or sequenced according to a pre-determined mathematical algorithm.

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23. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system includes any or any combination of sensing means or one or more sensors provided on or associated with the system for sensing one or more conditions of the system, one of more components of the system and/or one or more conditions in the surrounding area or locality in which the system is located; ventilation and/or cooling apparatus; heat sink means; anti-scald means; water or fluid proof or tight compartment and/or housing; electronic processing unit; communication means for allowing the system to communicate with one or more external systems or communication systems, a computer system, a server, the Internet, or electronic processing means; memory and/or data storage means; a user interface; user actuation means.

24. The system according to claim 18 wherein the one or more parameters, functions and/or characteristics includes any or any combination of volume of fluid being heated at a particular time, the temperature of the fluid being heated, the time of day at which the fluid is heated, a plurality of times of day at which the fluid is to be heated, the length of time for which the fluid is heated for, which heating elements are being used to supply the heat to heat the fluid at any particular time, which fluid paths are to be used to allow flow of fluid through the system at any particular time, the wattage of electrical power used by the system and/or one or more heating elements, the monetary value of the electrical energy being consumed by the system, the amount of carbon being used by the system, or the carbon footprint of the system.

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30. The system according to claim 1 wherein fluid only flows through the system when a fluid tap or fluid outlet associated or joined with the system is moved to an on condition from an off condition.

31. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system includes one or more fluid outlets or taps remote from a housing of the system to which fluid heated by the system is able to flow to in use, and each or one or more of said fluid outlets or taps has control means provided on or associated therewith and which are arranged to communicate with control means provided in or associated with the system housing.

32. A method of using an electric fluid heating system, said system including first and at least second electrically powered heating elements, a fluid path associated with each of the first and at least second heating elements, said method including the steps of moving at least one of the heating elements to an operable condition, heating fluid contained in a fluid path surrounding said heating element, and independently controlling and/or operating the first and at least second heating elements.

Description

[0123] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

[0124] FIGS. 1a-1d show a front view, front perspective view, rear perspective view and base view respectively of an electric water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0125] FIG. 2 is a front view of the electric water heater in FIGS. 1a-1d with the front cover removed;

[0126] FIG. 3 is a front view of the electric heating elements used in the heater in one embodiment with independent spiral water paths associated with each heating element;

[0127] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a partially exploded view and a front perspective view of an electric heating system respectively according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0128] FIG. 5 shows the electric heating system in FIGS. 4a-4b with all the front covers removed;

[0129] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an electric heating system in one embodiment; and

[0130] FIGS. 7a and 7b show a main water inlet feed assembly and a main water outlet feed assembly respectively for use in an electric heating system in one embodiment.

[0131] Referring to the figures, there is illustrated an electric fluid heating system in the form of an electric water heater or boiler 2.

[0132] The boiler 2 comprises an outer housing 4 having a main front panel 6, a rear panel 8, side walls 10, 12, a top wall 14 and a base wall 16. The boiler is powered by mains electricity delivered by an electrical cable 18. Water enters the boiler 2 through a main water inlet pipe 22 and water exits the boiler 2 through a mains water outlet pipe 20.

[0133] Ventilation slots 24 are provided along top wall 14 of the outer housing 4 to prevent the housing from becoming too hot in use, but it will be appreciated that ventilation slots could be provided on any or any combination of panels of the housing 4 as required.

[0134] The main front panel 6 is typically detachably attached to the housing 4 via a plurality of screws 26 which engage in corresponding apertures 27 provided on one or more panels of the remaining housing.

[0135] The rear panel 8 has attachment means in the form of screw apertures 25 associated therewith for allowing the panel to be mounted on a wall surface in use.

[0136] The front of the housing 4 further comprises main front panel 6 and a further front panel 28 is provided over a control unit 30 of the boiler 2.

[0137] A heating unit 32 is located in the housing 4 and comprises a plurality of heating elements 34, each of which is surrounded by a fluid or water path 36.

[0138] The heating unit 32 is typically located in a sub-housing assembly 33. The sub-housing assembly 33 is typically located in housing 4.

[0139] More particularly, in the illustrated example, the heating unit 32 comprises six separate heating elements 34. More or less heating elements could be provided depending on the required size of the boiler and/or the volume of water to be heated by the boiler in use. Each heating element 34 comprises two elongate and parallel heating element portions 34, 34, with a transverse heating element portion 34 provided at a base thereof. The heating elements are electrically powered using electricity delivered to the housing 4 via electrical cable 18.

[0140] Each heating element 34 has a water path 36 independently associated with the heating element. Each water path 36 is arranged in a spiral around its corresponding heating element 34 so as to provide the greatest volume of water in close contact with the heating element 34 as possible. The water contained in water path 36 is typically in direct contact with the exterior surface of the heating element in use. As the water flows past the heating element along the spiral water path, heat is transferable from the heating element to the water, thereby heating the water.

[0141] The main water inlet pipe 20 includes a flow meter 38 for measuring the flow of water into the boiler 2 via inlet pipe 22. The water typically comes from a mains cold water supply in use. A temperature sensor in the form of a thermistor 40 is provided on the main water inlet pipe so that the temperature of the inflowing water can be measured. A heat sink block 42 is associated with the mains water inlet pipe 22 for cooling electronic circuitry associated with the control means of the system.

[0142] The main water outlet pipe 20 also has a temperature sensor in the form of a thermistor 40. An anti-scald valve 44 is provided on the main water outlet pipe to allow cold water to be mixed with the water leaving the boiler 2, if necessary, so as not to scald a user in use.

[0143] The control unit includes electronic processing means for processing data relating to the boiler 2. Communication means in the form of a transmitter and receiver (not shown) are provided in the control unit for data and one or more signals to be transmitted from and/or received by the unit.

[0144] Memory means can be associated with the control unit 30 for storing data relating to the boiler 2. This data can be used to optimise the performance of the boiler in use.

[0145] Each heating element 34 has a relay switch 50 associated with the same. Each relay switch 50 allows each heating element to be moved between an on condition and an off condition independently of the other heating elements. The control unit 30 controls operation of the relay switches 50.

[0146] The control unit 30 can be set to control the relay switches in any required order, such as all of them simultaneously or two or more of them in sequence.

[0147] If each or two or more of the heating elements are moved between on and off conditions in quick succession, the overall amount of electrical energy consumed by the heating elements in heating the surrounding water is reduced. Even when the heating element is in the off condition, heat is still typically transferred to the water surrounding the heating element.

[0148] The user is able to set the temperature of the water exiting the boiler 2 using the control unit. The heating elements are heated to the temperature required to heat the water to the user selected temperature. As such, as the heated water exits the boiler 2, it is at the required user selected temperature and the user is not required to mix the heated water with cold water to obtain the required temperature.

[0149] The control unit 30 can control any or any combination of parameters associated with the volume and/or speed of the water flow through the water path, the temperature of the heating elements, the time period of heating of the heating elements, the sequence of heating of the heating elements and/or the like to allow the required water temperature for the boiler to be obtained.

[0150] In one example, a number of pre-stored algorithms are provided with software in the control unit to allow a particular sequence of heating of the heating elements, switching of the heating elements, water flow and/or the like to be determined.

[0151] The volume of water flowing through the system is typically constant regardless of temperature. The system of the present invention is designed such that control unit can detect the demand of hot water required, the temperature at which the water is required, and determine how many heating elements need to receive power in order to heat the required volume of water, and what valves associated with what water flow paths need to be opened or closed in order to allow the water to flow in the required path past the required heating elements.

[0152] The term hot water is typically any water required above or significantly above the temperature of the incoming cold water feed which requires heat to be input to the same in order to reach the required temperature.

[0153] In one example, a system requiring hot water to be provided at 44 C., will deliver water at that temperature to a tap in a house at a flow of 5-7 litres per second. In contrast, a conventional gas combination boiler will take 1 minute and 56 seconds to deliver the same temperature of water to a particular tap in a house.