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INDUCTIVE INTELLIGENT WATER HEATER

20250027683 ยท 2025-01-23

    Inventors

    Cpc classification

    International classification

    Abstract

    A rust-proof, grid-friendly system for heating a flow of water including a heating circuit fluidly coupled to a water source fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures. The heating circuit includes an inlet, an outlet, and a water containment unit made up of a plurality of tanks. The water may be heated by inducing magnetic eddy currents in a ferromagnetic material to heat the flow of water. The system further includes a plurality of sensors and a Smart Appliance communicatively coupled to the heating circuit and the plurality of sensors. The Smart Appliance may include an artificial intelligence (AI) model configured to manipulate an operation of the heating circuit. The Smart Application may be coupled to a cloud computing system having its own AI model to further manipulate an operation of the heating circuit.

    Claims

    1. A system (100) for heating water comprising: a. a heating and containment circuit (200) fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600), comprising: i. an inlet (202) configured to accept the water; ii. an outlet (204) configured to direct the water to an external source; iii. a plurality of tanks (220), wherein a first tank of the plurality of tanks (220) is fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), wherein at least one tank of the plurality of tanks (220) is fluidly coupled to the outlet (204), wherein the plurality of tanks (220) are fluidly coupled to each other, wherein each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) is configured to store the water; iv. a plurality of planar heating surfaces, each planar heating surface (215) fluidly coupled to a bottom of each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) such that each planar heating surface (215) is fully submerged within a tank of the plurality of tanks (220), wherein each planar heating surface (215) comprises a ferromagnetic material, wherein the plurality of planar heating surfaces is configured to heat the water stored by the plurality of tanks (220); v. a plurality of laminar injection mechanisms (120), wherein at least one laminar injection mechanism is fluidly coupled to the inlet (202) and the bottom of a tank of the plurality of tanks (220), configured to inject a laminar stream of water from the inlet (202) into the tank, wherein at least one laminar injection mechanism is fluidly coupled between each tank of the plurality of tanks, configured to inject a laminar stream of water from one tank to another; vi. a plurality of inductors, each inductor (210) operatively coupled to at least two planar heating surfaces of the plurality of planar heating surfaces such that each inductor (210) has at least one planar heating surface (215) coupled to a top surface and at least one planar heating surface (215) coupled to a bottom surface, wherein each inductor (210) is fully submerged in a tank of the plurality of tanks (220), wherein actuating each inductor (210) induces magnetic eddy currents in the ferromagnetic material of the planar heating surface (215) to heat the water and reduce a concentration of calcite in the water; vii. a plurality of electric high-frequency generators, each electric high-frequency generator (430) operatively coupled to an inductor (210) of the plurality of inductors, wherein each electric high-frequency generator (430) is configured to direct power to each inductor (210) while maintaining a resonance frequency such that the power directed to the inductor (210) is maximized, wherein each electric high-frequency generator (430) comprises a tuning circuit configured to identify the resonance frequency of the inductor (210); and viii. a descaling device (110) fluidly coupled to and integrated into the inlet (202) external to the plurality of tanks (220), configured to further reduce the concentration of calcite in the water; b. a plurality of sensors (300) comprising pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof, wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the inlet (202), wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the outlet (204); c. a cloud computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors (300), comprising a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model, configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and a prediction of future hot water usage and cost as output such that a wireless device is alerted of the prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and the prediction of future hot water usage and cost, wherein the prediction of future hot water usage and cost comprises a prediction of water usage down to a time of day for every day of a year; and d. a Smart Appliance (400) communicatively coupled to the cloud computing system, the heating and containment circuit (200), and the plurality of sensors (300), comprising: i. a processor capable of executing computer-readable instructions; and ii. a memory component operatively coupled to the processor, the memory component comprising: A. a leak detection AI model configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and identifying a detected leak, a detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof within, downstream, or upstream of the heating and containment circuit (200); B. a User Settings Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. adjusting based on user input, a temperature for the water stored in the plurality of tanks (220); II. adjusting based on user input, an automatic inlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200); III. adjusting based on user input, an automatic outlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200); IV. adjusting based on user input, a temporary reduction of water, power, or a combination thereof directed to the heating and containment circuit (200); V. adjusting based on user input, a scalding safety governor configured to detect when the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above a threshold set by a user; and VI. setting based on user input, a maximum number and a maximum duration of alerts triggered by the Smart Appliance (400); C. a Flow Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. automatically activating the plurality of electric high-frequency generators upon activation of one or more water fixtures; II. temporarily reducing, in response to a request for the temporary reduction of water in the User Settings Module, a flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200); III. automatically activating or deactivating the plurality of electric high-frequency generators based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model; and IV. automatically reducing, in response to the leak detection AI model identifying a detected leak, the flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200); D. a Utility Interface Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. connecting the system (100) to a utility supplier; II. requesting a temporary reduction of operation of the heating and containment circuit (200) to accommodate reductions requested by the utility supplier; and III. alerting the user in response to temporary reduction of operation requested by the utility supplier; E. a Safety Monitor and Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. closing the inlet (202), the outlet (204), or a combination thereof in response to the detected leak, the detected blockage, the excessive water usage, or a combination thereof; II. reducing power to the electric high-frequency generator (430) if the safety scalding governor detects that the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above the threshold, if the inlet (202), outlet (204), or both are closed, if the utility supplier requests the temporary reduction of operation, or a combination thereof; III. detecting an irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in power delivered to the plurality of electric high-frequency generators, or a combination thereof indicative of a fault in the plurality of inductors, the plurality of planar heating surfaces, the plurality of electric high-frequency generators, or the combination thereof; IV. detecting, based on the data from the plurality of sensors (300), the predictive AI model, the leak detection AI model, or a combination thereof, one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs; V. alerting the user of the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive hot water usage, or the combination thereof; VI. alerting the user of the temporary reduction of water based on the user input requested in the User Settings Module; and VII. alerting the user of the one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs; F. a Hot Water Reporting Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. reporting a cost and trend of power used by the heating and containment circuit (200); II. reporting a cost and trend of hot water consumption of the heating and containment circuit (200); and III. forecasting a future cost of water and power used by the heating and containment circuit (200) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model; G. a Communication Module comprising computer-readable instructions for managing wireless interfaces between the system (100) and one or more external devices; H. an Intelligent Power Supply Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. receiving electric power from a power source; II. cleaning, conditioning, and surge-protecting electric power to the Smart Appliance (400); and III. regulating and distributing power to each electric high-frequency generator (430) of the plurality of electric high-frequency generators; and I. a Maintenance Monitor Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. alerting the user of the irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in the power delivered to the plurality of electric high-frequency generators, or the combination thereof detected by the Safety Monitor and Control Module; and II. running diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) and one or more modules of the Smart Appliance (400) at a fixed interval.

    2. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tanks (220) comprises one or more non-steel composite material such that each tank comprises a thermal conductivity (k) value less than or equal to 8.5 W/m.sup.2/ K.

    3. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein each planar heating surface (215) comprises a ferritic non-corrosive material.

    4. The system (100) of claim 3, wherein the ferritic non-corrosive material comprises a plurality of stainless steel sheets or any ferritic corrosive material coated, clad, or a combination thereof in a material configured to be immersible, heat-resistance, and drinking-water-safe.

    5. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein each planar heating surface (215) is coupled to an inductor (210), wherein each inductor (210) comprises a wire coil having a plurality of turns, wherein the wire coil is bound in high-temperature plastic, epoxy, enamel, or a combination thereof.

    6. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the cloud computing system is further configured to generate a profile of hourly and daily hot water usage specific to the system (100) and store the profile such that the profile is associated with the Smart Appliance (400).

    7. The system (100) of claim 6, wherein the cloud computing system is further configured to produce a new prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model and update the profile based on the new prediction of future hot water usage and cost.

    8. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the cloud computing system is further configured to transmit the data from the plurality of sensors (300) to the utility supplier.

    9. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the one or more external devices comprise a mobile device, wherein the User Settings Module is configured to accept the user input from the mobile device, wherein the cloud computing system is configured to transmit alerts to the mobile device.

    10. A system (100) for heating water comprising: a. a heating and containment circuit (200) fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600), comprising an inlet (202) configured to accept water from the plurality of water fixtures (600) into the heating and containment circuit (200), a heating element (215) fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), configured to heat the water, and an outlet (204) fluidly coupled to the heating element (215), configured to direct the water to an external source; b. a plurality of sensors (300) comprising pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof, wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the inlet (202), wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the outlet (204); c. a cloud computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors (300), comprising a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model, configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and a prediction of future hot water usage and cost as output such that a wireless device is alerted of the prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and the prediction of future hot water usage and cost, wherein the prediction of future hot water usage and cost comprises a prediction of water usage down to a time of day for every day of a year; and d. a Smart Appliance (400) communicatively coupled to the cloud computing system, the heating and containment circuit (200), and the plurality of sensors (300), comprising: i. a processor capable of executing computer-readable instructions; and ii. a memory component operatively coupled to the processor, the memory component comprising: A. a leak detection AI model configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and identifying a detected leak, a detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof within, downstream, or upstream of the heating and containment circuit (200); B. a User Settings Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. adjusting based on user input, a temperature for the water stored in the plurality of tanks (220); II. adjusting based on user input, an automatic inlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200); III. adjusting based on user input, an automatic outlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200); IV. adjusting based on user input, a temporary reduction of water, power, or a combination thereof directed to the heating and containment circuit (200); V. adjusting based on user input, a scalding safety governor configured to detect when the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above a threshold set by a user; and VI. setting based on user input, a maximum number and a maximum duration of alerts triggered by the Smart Appliance (400); C. a Flow Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. automatically activating the electric high-frequency generator (430) upon activation of one or more water fixtures; II. temporarily reducing, in response to a request for the temporary reduction of water in the User Settings Module, a flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200); III. automatically activating or deactivating the heating element (215) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model; and IV. automatically reducing, in response to the leak detection AI model identifying a detected leak, the flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200); D. a Utility Interface Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. connecting the system (100) to a utility supplier; II. requesting a temporary reduction of operation of the heating and containment circuit (200) to accommodate reductions requested by the utility supplier; and III. alerting the user in response to temporary reduction of operation requested by the utility supplier; E. a Safety Monitor and Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. closing the inlet (202), the outlet (204), or a combination thereof in response to the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive hot water usage, or a combination thereof; II. reducing power to the heating element (215) if the safety scalding governor detects that the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above the threshold, if the inlet (202), outlet (204), or both are closed, if the utility supplier requests the temporary reduction of operation, or a combination thereof; III. detecting an irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in power delivered to the heating element (215) indicative of a fault in the heating element (215); IV. detecting, based on the data from the plurality of sensors (300), the predictive AI model, the leak detection AI model, or a combination thereof, one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs; V. alerting the user of the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive hot water usage, or the combination thereof; VI. alerting the user of the temporary reduction of water based on the user input requested in the User Settings Module; and VII. alerting the user of the one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs; F. a Hot Water Reporting Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. reporting a cost and trend of power used by the heating and containment circuit (200); II. reporting a cost and trend of hot water consumption of the heating and containment circuit (200); and III. forecasting a future cost of water and power used by the heating and containment circuit (200) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model; G. a Communication Module comprising computer-readable instructions for managing wireless interfaces between the system (100) and one or more external devices; H. an Intelligent Power Supply Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. receiving electric power from a power source; II. cleaning, conditioning, and surge-protecting electric power to the Smart Appliance (400); and III. regulating and distributing power to the heating element (215); and I. a Maintenance Monitor Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: I. alerting the user of the irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in the power delivered to the heating element (215), or the combination thereof detected by the Safety Monitor and Control Module; and II. running diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) and one or more modules of the Smart Appliance (400) at a fixed interval.

    11. The system (100) of claim 10, wherein the heating and containment circuit (200) further comprises one or more inductors (210) operatively coupled to the heating element (215), wherein actuating the one or more inductors (210) induces magnetic eddy currents in the ferromagnetic material of the heating element (215) to heat the water and reduce a concentration of calcite in the water.

    12. The system (100) of claim 11, wherein the heating element (215) comprises a solenoid coil comprising copper tubing, disposed external to a flow of the water through the inlet (202) and the outlet (204).

    13. The system (100) of claim 11, wherein the heating and containment circuit (200) further comprises a plurality of tanks (220) fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), the heating element (215), and the outlet (204), configured to contain the water; wherein the heating element (215) comprises a plurality of planar heating surfaces, each planar heating surface submerged in each tank of the plurality of tanks (220).

    14. A system (100) for heating water comprising: a. a heating and containment circuit (200) fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600), comprising an inlet (202) configured to accept water from the plurality of water fixtures (600), a heating element (215) fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), configured to heat the water, and an outlet (204) fluidly coupled to the heating element (215), configured to direct the water to an external source; b. a plurality of sensors (300) comprising pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof, wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the inlet (202), wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the outlet (204); c. a cloud computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors (300), comprising a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model, configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and a prediction of future hot water usage and cost as output such that a wireless device is alerted of the prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and the prediction of future hot water usage and cost, wherein the prediction of future hot water usage and cost comprises a prediction of water usage down to a time of day for every day of a year; and d. a Smart Appliance (400) communicatively and operatively coupled to the heating and containment circuit (200) and the plurality of sensors (300), configured to monitor, operate, regulate, and run diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) automatically or in response to user input, the Smart Appliance (400) comprising a leak detection AI model configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and identifying a detected leak, a detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof within, downstream, or upstream of the heating and containment circuit (200).

    15. The system (100) of claim 14, wherein the Smart Appliance (400) further comprises a User Settings Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: a. adjusting based on user input, a temperature for the water stored in the plurality of tanks (220); b. adjusting based on user input, an automatic inlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200); c. adjusting based on user input, an automatic outlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200); d. adjusting based on user input, a temporary reduction of water, power, or a combination thereof directed to the heating and containment circuit (200); e. adjusting based on user input, a scalding safety governor configured to detect when the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above a threshold set by a user; and f. setting based on user input, a maximum number and a maximum duration of alerts triggered by the Smart Appliance (400).

    16. The system (100) of claim 15, wherein the Smart Appliance (400) further comprises a Flow Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: a. automatically activating the heating element (215) upon activation of one or more water fixtures; b. temporarily reducing, in response to a request for the temporary reduction of water in the User Settings Module, a flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200); c. automatically activating or deactivating the heating element (215) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model; and d. automatically reducing, in response to the leak detection AI model identifying a detected leak, the flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200).

    17. The system (100) of claim 15, wherein the Smart Appliance (400) further comprises a Safety Monitor and Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: a. closing the inlet (202), the outlet (204), or a combination thereof in response to the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof; b. reducing power to the heating element (215) if the safety scalding governor detects that the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above the threshold, if the inlet (202), outlet (204), or both are closed, or a combination thereof; c. detecting an irregularity in a temperature of the water, an irregularity in power delivered to the heating element (215) indicative of a fault in the heating element (215); d. detecting, based on the data from the plurality of sensors (300), the predictive AI model, the leak detection AI model, or a combination thereof, one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs; e. alerting the user of the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive hot water usage, or the combination thereof; f. alerting the user of the temporary reduction of water based on the user input requested in the User Settings Module; and g. alerting the user of the one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs.

    18. The system (100) of claim 17, wherein the Smart Appliance (400) further comprises a Maintenance Monitor Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: a. alerting the user of the irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in the power delivered to the heating element (215), or the combination thereof detected by the Safety Monitor and Control Module; and b. running diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) and one or more modules of the Smart Appliance (400) at a fixed interval.

    19. The system (100) of claim 14, wherein the Smart Appliance (400) further comprises a Utility Interface Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: a. connecting the system (100) to a utility supplier; b. requesting a temporary reduction of operation of the heating and containment circuit (200) to accommodate reductions requested by the utility supplier; and c. alerting the user in response to temporary reduction of operation requested by the utility supplier.

    20. The system (100) of claim 14, wherein the Smart Appliance (400) further comprises a Hot Water Reporting Module comprising computer-readable instructions for: a. reporting a cost and trend of power used by the heating and containment circuit (200); b. reporting a cost and trend of hot water consumption of the heating and containment circuit (200); and c. forecasting a future cost of water and power used by the heating and containment circuit (200) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model.

    21. A system (100) for heating water comprising: a. a heating and containment circuit (200) fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600), comprising: i. an inlet (202) configured to accept the water; ii. an outlet (204) configured to direct the water to an external source; iii. a plurality of tanks (220), wherein a first tank of the plurality of tanks (220) is fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), wherein at least one tank of the plurality of tanks (220) is fluidly coupled to the outlet (204), wherein the plurality of tanks (220) are fluidly coupled to each other, wherein each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) is configured to store the water; and iv. a plurality of planar heating surfaces, each planar heating surface (215) fluidly coupled to a bottom of each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) such that each planar heating surface (215) is fully submerged within a tank of the plurality of tanks (220), wherein each planar heating surface (215) comprises a ferromagnetic material, wherein the plurality of planar heating surfaces is configured to heat the water stored by the plurality of tanks (220); b. a plurality of sensors (300) comprising pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof, wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the inlet (202), wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the outlet (204); c. a cloud computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors (300), comprising a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model, configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and a prediction of future hot water usage and cost as output such that a wireless device is alerted of the prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and the prediction of future hot water usage and cost, wherein the prediction of future hot water usage and cost comprises a prediction of water usage down to a time of day for every day of a year; and d. a Smart Appliance (400) communicatively and operatively coupled to the heating and containment circuit (200) and the plurality of sensors (300), configured to monitor, operate, regulate, and run diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) automatically or in response to user input, the Smart Appliance (400) comprising a leak detection AI model configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and identifying a detected leak, a detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof within, downstream, or upstream of the heating and containment circuit (200).

    22. The system (100) of claim 21, wherein a material of the plurality of tanks (220) comprises a steel material, a composite material, or a combination thereof.

    Description

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

    [0055] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

    [0056] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the overall system for the energy-efficient continuous heating of hot water for residential and commercial buildings.

    [0057] FIGS. 2A-2C show embodiments of the first perspective of the heating device of the water as a single pass Induction Energy Transfer Unit (IETU). FIG. 2A shows a front-view concept diagram of the IETU. Cold water flows in at the bottom through the FCM sensors and valve and then into the IETU. Hot water flows out at the top left and then through the FCM to the fixtures. FIG. 2B shows an orthographic front and top-down view of IETU pipes with two alternatives: round and hexagonal. FIG. 2C shows a top-down concept diagram of 3 alternate plate configurations that secure the pipes using round holes or slots for the flow of water through the plates, with white circles/rectangles being the holes in the plate and dark circles or hexagons representing the pipes.

    [0058] FIG. 3A shows a front view concept diagram of a tank embodiment of the IETU. Cold water flows in through the sensors and valve then through the Descaler then into the CCM then through the Diffuser. The IETU induces hot water through the planar induction coil assembly that's powered by the HFG. Hot water flows out the top through the sensors to the fixtures.

    [0059] FIG. 3B shows a front view concept diagram of a tankless embodiment of the IETU. In a tankless embodiment of the IETU, the pipes may act as the heating elements actuated by the inductor coil.

    [0060] FIG. 3C shows a concept diagram of a multi-tank embodiment of the IETU, comprising a plurality of tanks fluidly coupled to each other.

    [0061] FIGS. 4A-4D show various views and embodiments of the planar coil assembly of the IETU. Cold water flows in through the sensors and valve and then into the IETU. Hot water flows out through the sensors to the fixtures.

    [0062] FIGS. 5A-5B show front and side view concept diagrams of the 2-stage IETU, with cold water entering from the right through the FCM sensors and valve, then passing up the 1 st stage of holes in the plate and pipes, then when the water reaches the top of the 1 st stage, it turns and passes down the 2nd stage of holes in the plates and pipes. Hot water flows out at the bottom left, then through the FCM to the fixtures. The dashed line represents the solid plate that separates the 1st and 2nd stages. The configuration of the plates and pipes that water passes through can be any configuration described in FIGS. 2A-2C.

    [0063] FIG. 6 shows a side-view concept diagram of a 2-stage IETU with inductor coils wrapped around the IETU heating box. Cold water enters the bottom right inlet FCM sensors and valve, and hot water exits the bottom left outlet FCM.

    [0064] FIGS. 7A-7B show front and side view concept diagrams of a 2-stage IETU with a pancake inductor placed over each stage of the IETU heating box. Cold water enters the bottom right inlet through the FCM sensors and valve, then flows up through the 1 st stage, then down through the 2nd stage, then hot water exits the bottom left outlet through the FCM.

    [0065] FIGS. 8A-8B show embodiments of a variant of the IETU as a single or multi-stage pass of a flow of water to be heated. FIG. 8A shows a front view concept diagram of single to multi-stage IETU with inductor coils placed over each stage. Depending on the capacity needed, a single stage can be used for small use (e.g. an RV) or a single faucet (e.g. dishwasher). For more capacity, additional stages can be snapped on. Cold water enters at the bottom right inlet through the FCM sensors and valve and hot water exits at the top (or bottom) outlet (depending on the number of stages) through the FCM. FIG. 8B shows front and top-down view diagrams of the hexagon pipe with an inductor. The outer hexagonal pipe contains multiple hexagonal pipes within. Dark color hexagons are the hexagon pipes and light color shapes are pathways for water flow.

    [0066] FIGS. 8C-8D show front and top down view diagrams of embodiments of the hexagon pipe with inductor. The outer hexagonal pipe contains multiple hexagonal pipes within. Dark color hexagons are the hexagon pipes and light color are pathways for water flow.

    [0067] FIG. 9 shows a schematic of the Smart Appliance computer and Intelligent Power Supply and Conditioner of the present invention.

    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

    [0068] The present invention features a system (100) for heating water. The system (100) may comprise a heating and containment circuit (200) fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600). The circuit (200) may comprise an inlet (202) configured to accept the water, an outlet (204) configured to direct the water to an external source, and a plurality of tanks (220). A first tank of the plurality of tanks (220) may be fluidly coupled to the inlet (202). At least one tank of the plurality of tanks (220) may be fluidly coupled to the outlet (204). The plurality of tanks (220) may be fluidly coupled to each other. Each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) may be configured to store the water.

    [0069] The circuit may further comprise a plurality of planar heating surfaces, each planar heating surface (215) fluidly coupled to a bottom of each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) such that each planar heating surface (215) is fully submerged within a tank of the plurality of tanks (220). Each planar heating surface (215) may comprise a ferromagnetic material. The plurality of planar heating surfaces may be configured to heat the water stored by the plurality of tanks (220). The circuit (200) may further comprise a plurality of laminar injection mechanisms (120). At least one laminar injection mechanism may be fluidly coupled to the inlet (202) and the bottom of a tank of the plurality of tanks (220), configured to inject a laminar stream of water from the inlet (202) into the tank. At least one laminar injection mechanism may be fluidly coupled between each tank of the plurality of tanks, configured to inject a laminar stream of water from one tank to another.

    [0070] The circuit (200) may further comprise a plurality of inductors, each inductor (210) operatively coupled to at least two planar heating surfaces of the plurality of planar heating surfaces such that each inductor (210) has at least one planar heating surface (215) coupled to a top surface and at least one planar heating surface (215) coupled to a bottom surface. Each inductor (210) may be fully submerged in a tank of a plurality of tanks (220). Actuating each inductor (210) induces magnetic eddy currents in the ferromagnetic material of the planar heating surface (215) to heat the water and reduce the concentration of calcite in the water.

    [0071] The circuit (200) may further comprise a plurality of electric high-frequency generators, each electric high-frequency generator (430) operatively coupled to an inductor (210) of the plurality of inductors. Each electric high-frequency generator (430) may be configured to direct power to each inductor (210) while maintaining a resonance frequency such that the power directed to the inductor (210) is maximized. Each electric high-frequency generator (430) may comprise a tuning circuit configured to identify the resonance frequency of the inductor (210). The circuit (200) may further comprise a descaling device (110) fluidly coupled to and integrated into the inlet (202) external to the plurality of tanks (220), configured to further reduce the concentration of scale in the water.

    [0072] The system (100) may further comprise a plurality of sensors (300) comprising pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors (300) may further comprise a valve configured to prevent and/or allow the flow of water along the sensors upon actuation. At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the inlet (202). At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) may be integrated into the outlet (204). The system (100) may further comprise a cloud computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors (300), comprising a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model, configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and a prediction of future hot water usage and cost as output such that a wireless device is alerted of the prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and the prediction of future hot water usage and cost. The prediction of future hot water usage and cost may comprise a prediction of water usage down to a time of day for every day of a year.

    [0073] The system (100) may further comprise a Smart Appliance (SA) (400) communicatively coupled to the cloud computing system, the heating and containment circuit (200), and the plurality of sensors (300). In some embodiments, the SA (400) may additionally be coupled to the valve and capable of actuating the valve. The SA (400) may comprise a processor capable of executing computer-readable instructions, and a memory component operatively coupled to the processor. The memory component may comprise a leak detection AI model configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and identifying a detected leak, a detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof within, downstream, or upstream of the heating and containment circuit (200).

    [0074] The memory component may further comprise a User Settings Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise adjusting based on user input, a temperature for the water stored in the plurality of tanks (220), adjusting based on user input, an automatic inlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200), adjusting based on user input, an automatic outlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200), adjusting based on user input, a temporary reduction of water, power, or a combination thereof directed to the heating and containment circuit (200), adjusting based on user input, a scalding safety governor configured to detect when the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above a threshold set by a user, and setting based on user input, a maximum number and a maximum duration of alerts triggered by the Smart Appliance (400).

    [0075] The memory component may further comprise a Flow Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise automatically activating the plurality of electric high-frequency generators upon activation of one or more water fixtures, temporarily reducing, in response to a request for the temporary reduction of water in the User Settings Module, a flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200), automatically activating or deactivating the plurality of electric high-frequency generators based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model, and automatically reducing, in response to the leak detection AI model identifying a detected leak, the flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200).

    [0076] The memory component may further comprise a Utility Interface Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise connecting the system (100) to a utility supplier, requesting a temporary reduction of operation of the heating and containment circuit (200) to accommodate reductions requested by the utility supplier, and alerting the user in response to temporary reduction of operation requested by the utility supplier.

    [0077] The memory component may further comprise a Safety Monitor and Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise closing the inlet (202), the outlet (204), or a combination thereof in response to the detected leak, the detected blockage, the excessive water usage, or a combination thereof and reducing power to the electric high-frequency generator (430) if the safety scalding governor detects that the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above the threshold, if the inlet (202), outlet (204), or both are closed, if the utility supplier requests the temporary reduction of operation, or a combination thereof. The instructions may further comprise detecting an irregularity in the temperature of the water (e.g. water unable to heat to set-point temperature), an irregularity in power delivered to the plurality of electric high-frequency generators, or a combination thereof indicative of a fault in the plurality of inductors, the plurality of planar heating surfaces, the plurality of electric high-frequency generators, or the combination thereof.

    [0078] The instructions may further comprise detecting, based on the data from the plurality of sensors (300), the predictive AI model, the leak detection AI model, or a combination thereof, one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs. The instructions may further comprise alerting the user of the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive hot water usage, or the combination thereof, alerting the user of the temporary reduction of water based on the user input requested in the User Settings Module, and alerting the user of the one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs.

    [0079] The memory component may further comprise a Hot Water Reporting Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise reporting a cost and trend of power used by the heating and containment circuit (200), reporting a cost and trend of hot water consumption of the heating and containment circuit (200), and forecasting a future cost of water and power used by the heating and containment circuit (200) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model.

    [0080] The memory component may further comprise a Communication Module comprising computer-readable instructions for managing wireless interfaces between the system (100) and one or more external devices. The memory component may further comprise an Intelligent Power Supply Module comprising computer-readable instructions for receiving electric power from a power source, cleaning, conditioning, and surge-protecting electric power to the Smart Appliance (400), and regulating and distributing power to each electric high-frequency generator (430) of the plurality of electric high-frequency generators. The memory component may further comprise a Maintenance Monitor Module comprising computer-readable instructions for alerting the user of the irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in the power delivered to the plurality of electric high-frequency generators, or the combination thereof detected by the Safety Monitor and Control Module and running diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) and one or more modules of the Smart Appliance (400) at a fixed interval.

    [0081] In some embodiments, the plurality of tanks (220) may comprise one or more composite materials and/or steel materials such that each tank comprises a thermal conductivity (k) value less than or equal to 8.5 W/m.sup.2/ K. In some embodiments, each planar heating surface (215) may comprise a ferritic non-corrosive material. In some embodiments, the ferritic non-corrosive material may comprise a plurality of stainless steel sheets or any ferritic corrosive material coated, clad, or a combination thereof in a material configured to be immersible, heat-resistance, and drinking-water-safe.

    [0082] In some embodiments, each planar heating surface (215) may be coupled to an inductor (210). Each inductor (210) may comprise a wire coil having a plurality of turns. The wire coil may be bound in high-temperature plastic, epoxy, enamel, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cloud computing system may be further configured to generate a profile of hourly and daily hot water usage specific to the system (100) and store the profile such that the profile is associated with the Smart Appliance (400). In some embodiments, the cloud computing system may be further configured to produce a new prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model and update the profile based on the new prediction of future hot water usage and cost. In some embodiments, the cloud computing system may be further configured to transmit the data from the plurality of sensors (300) to the utility supplier. In some embodiments, the one or more external devices may comprise a mobile device. The User Settings Module may be configured to accept the user input from the mobile device. The cloud computing system may be configured to transmit alerts to the mobile device.

    [0083] The present invention features a system (100) for heating water. The system (100) may comprise a heating and containment circuit (200) fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600), comprising an inlet (202) configured to accept water from the plurality of water fixtures (600) into the heating and containment circuit (200), a heating element (215) fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), configured to heat the water, and an outlet (204) fluidly coupled to the heating element (215), configured to direct the water to an external source. The system may further comprise a plurality of sensors (300) comprising pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors (300) may further comprise a valve configured to prevent and/or allow the flow of water along the sensors upon actuation. At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) may be integrated into the inlet (202). At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) may be integrated into the outlet (204).

    [0084] The system (100) may further comprise a cloud computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors (300), comprising a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model, configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and a prediction of future hot water usage and cost as output such that a wireless device is alerted of the prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and the prediction of future hot water usage and cost, wherein the prediction of future hot water usage and cost comprises a prediction of water usage down to a time of day for every day of a year.

    [0085] The system (100) may further comprise a Smart Appliance (SA) (400) communicatively coupled to the cloud computing system, the heating and containment circuit (200), and the plurality of sensors (300). The SA (400) may additionally be coupled to the valve to actuate the valve. The SA (400) may comprise a processor capable of executing computer-readable instructions. The SA (400) may further comprise a memory component operatively coupled to the processor. The memory component may comprise a leak detection AI model configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and identifying a detected leak, a detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof within, downstream, or upstream of the heating and containment circuit (200).

    [0086] The memory component may further comprise a User Settings Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise adjusting based on user input, a temperature for the water stored in the plurality of tanks (220), adjusting based on user input, an automatic inlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200), adjusting based on user input, an automatic outlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200) adjusting based on user input, a temporary reduction of water, power, or a combination thereof directed to the heating and containment circuit (200), adjusting based on user input, a scalding safety governor configured to detect when the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above a threshold set by a user, and setting based on user input, a maximum number and a maximum duration of alerts triggered by the Smart Appliance (400).

    [0087] The memory component may further comprise a Flow Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise automatically activating the electric high-frequency generator (430) upon activation of one or more water fixtures, temporarily reducing, in response to a request for the temporary reduction of water in the User Settings Module, a flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200), automatically activating or deactivating the heating element (215) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model, and automatically reducing, in response to the leak detection AI model identifying a detected leak, the flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200).

    [0088] The memory component may further comprise a Utility Interface Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise connecting the system (100) to a utility supplier, requesting a temporary reduction of operation of the heating and containment circuit (200) to accommodate reductions requested by the utility supplier, and alerting the user in response to temporary reduction of operation requested by the utility supplier.

    [0089] The memory component may further comprise a Safety Monitor and Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise closing the inlet (202), the outlet (204), or a combination thereof in response to the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive hot water usage, or a combination thereof. The instructions may further comprise reducing power to the heating element (215) if the safety scalding governor detects that the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above the threshold, if the inlet (202), outlet (204), or both are closed, if the utility supplier requests the temporary reduction of operation, or a combination thereof.

    [0090] The instructions may further comprise detecting an irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in power delivered to the heating element (215) indicative of a fault in the heating element (215), detecting, based on the data from the plurality of sensors (300), the predictive AI model, the leak detection AI model, or a combination thereof, one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs, and alerting the user of the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive hot water usage, or the combination thereof. The instructions may further comprise alerting the user of the temporary reduction of water based on the user input requested in the User Settings Module and alerting the user of the one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs. The memory component may further comprise a Hot Water Reporting Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise reporting a cost and trend of power used by the heating and containment circuit (200), reporting a cost and trend of hot water consumption of the heating and containment circuit (200), and forecasting a future cost of water and power used by the heating and containment circuit (200) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model.

    [0091] The memory component may further comprise a Communication Module comprising computer-readable instructions for managing wireless interfaces between the system (100) and one or more external devices. The memory component may further comprise an Intelligent Power Supply Module comprising computer-readable instructions for receiving electric power from a power source, cleaning, conditioning, and surge-protecting electric power to the Smart Appliance (400), and regulating and distributing power to the heating element (215). The memory component may further comprise a Maintenance Monitor Module comprising computer-readable instructions for alerting the user of the irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in the power delivered to the heating element (215), or the combination thereof detected by the Safety Monitor and Control Module and running diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) and one or more modules of the Smart Appliance (400) at a fixed interval.

    [0092] In some embodiments, the heating and containment circuit (200) may further comprise one or more inductors (210) operatively coupled to the heating element (215). Actuating the one or more inductors (210) may induce magnetic eddy currents in the ferromagnetic material of the heating element (215) to heat the water and reduce a concentration of calcite in the water. In some embodiments, the heating element (215) may comprise a solenoid coil comprising copper tubing, disposed external to a flow of the water through the inlet (202) and the outlet (204). In some embodiments, the heating and containment circuit (200) may further comprise a plurality of tanks (220) fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), the heating element (215), and the outlet (204), configured to contain the water. The heating element (215) may comprise a plurality of planar heating surfaces, each planar heating surface submerged in each tank of the plurality of tanks (220).

    [0093] The present invention features a system (100) for heating water. In some embodiments, the system (100) may comprise a heating and containment circuit (200) fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600), comprising an inlet (202) configured to accept water from the plurality of water fixtures (600), a heating element (215) fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), configured to heat the water, and an outlet (204) fluidly coupled to the heating element (215), configured to direct the water to an external source. The system (100) may further comprise a plurality of sensors (300) comprising pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors (300) may further comprise a valve configured to prevent and/or allow the flow of water along the sensors upon actuation. At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) may be integrated into the inlet (202). At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) may be integrated into the outlet (204).

    [0094] The system (100) may further comprise a cloud computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors (300), comprising a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model, configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and a prediction of future hot water usage and cost as output such that a wireless device is alerted of the prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and the prediction of future hot water usage and cost, wherein the prediction of future hot water usage and cost comprises a prediction of water usage down to a time of day for every day of a year. The system (100) may further comprise a Smart Appliance (400) communicatively and operatively coupled to the heating and containment circuit (200) and the plurality of sensors (300), configured to monitor, operate, regulate, and run diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) automatically or in response to user input, the Smart Appliance (400) comprising a leak detection AI model configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and identifying a detected leak, a detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof within, downstream, or upstream of the heating and containment circuit (200).

    [0095] In some embodiments, the Smart Appliance (400) may further comprise a User Settings Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise adjusting based on user input, a temperature for the water stored in the plurality of tanks (220), adjusting based on user input, an automatic inlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200), adjusting based on user input, an automatic outlet shutoff setting for the heating and containment circuit (200), adjusting based on user input, a temporary reduction of water, power, or a combination thereof directed to the heating and containment circuit (200), adjusting based on user input, a scalding safety governor configured to detect when the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above a threshold set by a user, and setting based on user input, a maximum number and a maximum duration of alerts triggered by the Smart Appliance (400).

    [0096] In some embodiments, the Smart Appliance (400) may further comprise a Flow Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise automatically activating the heating element (215) upon activation of one or more water fixtures, temporarily reducing, in response to a request for the temporary reduction of water in the User Settings Module, a flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200), automatically activating or deactivating the heating element (215) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model, and automatically reducing, in response to the leak detection AI model identifying a detected leak, the flow of water through the heating and containment circuit (200).

    [0097] In some embodiments, the Smart Appliance (400) may further comprise a Safety Monitor and Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise closing the inlet (202), the outlet (204), or a combination thereof in response to the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof. The instructions may further comprise reducing power to the heating element (215) if the safety scalding governor detects that the heating and containment circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above the threshold, if the inlet (202), outlet (204), or both are closed, or a combination thereof.

    [0098] The instructions may further comprise detecting an irregularity in a temperature of the water, an irregularity in power delivered to the heating element (215) indicative of a fault in the heating element (215) and detecting, based on the data from the plurality of sensors (300), the predictive AI model, the leak detection AI model, or a combination thereof, one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs. The instructions may further comprise alerting the user of the detected leak, the detected blockage, excessive hot water usage, or the combination thereof, alerting the user of the temporary reduction of water based on the user input requested in the User Settings Module, and alerting the user of the one or more current or predictive faults or maintenance needs.

    [0099] In some embodiments, the Smart Appliance (400) may further comprise a Maintenance Monitor Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise alerting the user of the irregularity in the temperature of the water, an irregularity in the power delivered to the heating element (215), or the combination thereof detected by the Safety Monitor and Control Module, and running diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) and one or more modules of the Smart Appliance (400) at a fixed interval.

    [0100] In some embodiments, the Smart Appliance (400) may further comprise a Utility Interface Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise connecting the system (100) to a utility supplier, requesting a temporary reduction of operation of the heating and containment circuit (200) to accommodate reductions requested by the utility supplier, and alerting the user in response to temporary reduction of operation requested by the utility supplier.

    [0101] In some embodiments, the Smart Appliance (400) may further comprise a Hot Water Reporting Module comprising computer-readable instructions. The instructions may comprise reporting a cost and trend of power used by the heating and containment circuit (200), reporting a cost and trend of hot water consumption of the heating and containment circuit (200), and forecasting a future cost of water and power used by the heating and containment circuit (200) based on the prediction of future hot water usage and cost from the predictive AI model.

    [0102] The present invention features a system (100) for heating water. In some embodiments, the system may comprise a heating and containment circuit (200) fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600). The circuit (200) may comprise an inlet (202) configured to accept the water, an outlet (204) configured to direct the water to an external source, and a plurality of tanks (220). A first tank of the plurality of tanks (220) may be fluidly coupled to the inlet (202). At least one tank of the plurality of tanks (220) may be fluidly coupled to the outlet (204). The plurality of tanks (220) may be fluidly coupled to each other. Each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) may be configured to store the water. The circuit (200) may further comprise a plurality of planar heating surfaces, each planar heating surface (215) fluidly coupled to a bottom of each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) such that each planar heating surface (215) is fully submerged within a tank of the plurality of tanks (220). Each planar heating surface (215) may comprise a ferromagnetic material. The plurality of planar heating surfaces may be configured to heat the water stored by the plurality of tanks (220).

    [0103] The system (100) may further comprise a plurality of sensors (300) comprising pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof, wherein at least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) is integrated into the inlet (202). At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) may be integrated into the outlet (204). In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors (300) may further comprise a valve configured to prevent and/or allow the flow of water along the sensors upon actuation. The system (100) may further comprise a cloud computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors (300), comprising a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model, configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and a prediction of future hot water usage and cost as output such that a wireless device is alerted of the prediction of potential failure of the system (100) and the prediction of future hot water usage and cost, wherein the prediction of future hot water usage and cost comprises a prediction of water usage down to a time of day for every day of a year.

    [0104] The system (100) may further comprise a Smart Appliance (400) communicatively and operatively coupled to the heating and containment circuit (200) and the plurality of sensors (300), configured to monitor, operate, regulate, and run diagnostics on the heating and containment circuit (200) automatically or in response to user input, the Smart Appliance (400) comprising a leak detection AI model configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and identifying a detected leak, a detected blockage, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof within, downstream, or upstream of the heating and containment circuit (200). In some embodiments, the Smart Appliance (400) may be further coupled to the valve to actuate the valve. In some embodiments, a material of the plurality of tanks (220) may comprise a steel material, a composite material, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, each tank of the plurality of tanks (220) may comprise a steel coating with a layer of insulation on the outside and a glass coating on the inside to mitigate rust.

    [0105] As seen in FIGS. 2A-2C, the present invention features a tankless single pass Induction Energy Transfer Unit (IETU) where the inductor coils would be placed on the outside of the Composite Containment Module (CCM). Cold water flows in at the bottom through the FCM inlet sensors and valve assembly and then into the CCM. Hot water flows out at the top through the FCM assembly to the fixtures. The IETU pipes may have two alternatives: round and hexagonal. Three alternate plate configurations exist to secure the pipes using round holes or slots for the flow of water through the plates.

    [0106] The present invention features an embodiment of the heating device in a tank configuration of the Induction Energy Transfer Unit (IETU) and is a front view of a single tank CCM concept diagram, where cold water flows in through the FCM inlet sensor and valve assembly then through a Descaler then enters the CCM tank at the bottom via an inlet heat trap nipple and Diffuser that acts to prevent hot water from convection back through the inlet pipe and to minimize turbulence of the inlet water into the tank (to maximize the available homogeneous hot water within the tank), respectively. The planar coil assembly (inductor coil and ferritic heating plate) or solenoid coil assembly (Inductor coil and ferritic heating pipes) at the bottom of the tank, heats water uniformly to its set point temperature. The heating of the ferritic surfaces is via the High Frequency Generator (HFG). Hot water flows out through the FCM assembly at the top of the tank. The tank also includes a heat trap nipple at the outlet, a drain valve at the bottom, and a Temperature & Pressure (T&P) value at the top. The size, shape, material, and number of tanks are highly variable, as well as the size, shape, and wire (for planar) or tubing (for solenoid) of the inductor coil, as well as the size, shape, texture, and composition of the ferritic plate. These variabilities of the IETU are exceptional strengths that are used to accommodate any number of hot water capacities and available power input sources.

    [0107] For example, the present invention also features a configuration for the typical 40-gallon capacity (36-gallon storage) tank water heater found in most homes, with three CCM tanks of 12 gallons each (made from a composite material) and a planar coil assembly with a 3.5 OD and 3 concentric wrappings with 10 turns each of - - - equivalent gauge Litz wire that operates from an HFG with 120V 15 A single phase input power. The frequency of the HFG (typically between 30 kHz and 600 kHz) is maintained by a circuit that continuously measures and adjusts the frequency to maintain a resonance frequency and maximum power to the ferritic heating surface). Separate tanks enable the concentration of heating to be done sequentially to provide a 60 F. increase in water temperature in 60 minutes in each tank with the hot water outlet tank heated first to its set point temperature, whilst the cold-water inlet tank heated last. When a dedicated 208V, 220V, or 240V, and 30 A single-phase input are available, the heating in the three tanks is done simultaneously by maintaining the voltage across each coil and splitting the Amps across the coils.

    [0108] This three-tank configuration gives the homeowner a similar experience to hot water availability as a gas tank water heater when using either 120V or 240V input. Note, it has been shown by experiment that CCM tank proportions matter when heating water (especially at a low input power of 120V), and a higher length-to-diameter ratio (referred to as a tall tank) yields a better First Hour Rating than the reverse (referred to as a short tank). Further, with small-capacity tall tanks, experiments show the planar coil provides more uniform heating than the solenoid coil. In another embodiment of a tankless configuration of the IIWH, a 208V, 220V, or 240V single-phase input is required for flow rates over 1 GPM, and the IETU employs the innovative immersed solenoid coils.

    [0109] The Amps needed to power the device are a function of the flow rate capacity and inlet cold water temperature. The length of the IETU and CCM, number of inductor coils, coating on the coils (to prevent shorting across the coil when immersed in water), and material (typically copper) of the solenoid coil, along with the shape of the coil (e.g. round or rectangular tubes), and diameter and number of turns of the coils, as well as the number, material, and texturization of each pipe are widely configurable to meet a broad variety of input water temperatures and flow rate capacities consistent with safe drinking water and heat.

    [0110] For example, the present invention also features a tankless configuration to deliver about 2.7 GPM of hot water with a 60 F. temperature rise from the inlet water temperature (enough for two simultaneous showers). Water enters through the FMC assembly then through the Descaler then through a Diffuser (to distribute the inlet water evenly through the CCM) then out through the top of the CCM through the FMC assembly then to the hot water faucets. Each induction coil assembly is powered with an 18 kW input power HFG. The solenoid coil is 5 OD with 6 to 8 turns of 4 OD round copper tubing (powder coated). Inserted within the inductor coils are 10 to 129 OD pipes of stainless ferritic steel (e.g. SS 439).

    [0111] In a tank embodiment, the present invention features a planar (pancake) coil inductor assembly comprising wire (copper or aluminum) wound in a chassis of non-ferritic material. The number of wire windings can be in a single layer or multiple concentric layers, depending on the desired configuration of the coil assembly and power input requirements. The chassis can be made from plastic (that can resist heat and water) or aluminum or other non-ferritic material consistent with safe drinking water and heat. A popular wire for induction heating is Litz (a woven wire with each strand individually insulated) because it can carry alternating current at radio frequencies (up to 1 MHz). The equivalent gauge of the Litz wire is dependent on the input power.

    [0112] The present invention may include ferritic material surfaces (e.g. a brick) to focus the magnetic field toward the ferritic heating surface. The coil assembly is covered with a thin epoxy coat (to prevent scale deposit between the wires and rusting of the ferritic bricks underneath the wires). Note, the ferritic bricks are heated by magnetic induction but the heat is captured by the water, however, this material must be isolated from the water (so as not to rust) which can be done in any number of ways consistent with safe drinking water and heat (e.g. ferritic brick is wrapped in a thin insulator then clad in austenitic stainless steel or aluminum, or encased in a plastic non-ferritic chassis, etc.). The coil assembly includes the ferritic plate to be heated. A slight upward incline to the plate, as it approaches the plate's center, may enable the heating of water on both surfaces of the plate. Experimentally it has been found that ridges in the plate and/or texturizing the surface can improve heating. The starfish pattern has been effective because as water is heated on the bottom surface it convectively travels toward the center carried by the ridges, where it travels out the hole (that acts as a chimney).

    [0113] The present invention features an alternate tankless configuration of the IETU, with cold water entering from the bottom FCM sensors and valve, then passing up the 1st stage of holes in the plate and pipes, then when the water reaches the top of the 1 st stage, it turns and passes down the 2nd stage of holes in the plates and pipes. Hot water flows out at the bottom, then through the FCM assembly to the fixtures. The dashed line represents the solid plate that separates the 1 st and 2nd stages. The configuration of the plates and pipes that water passes through can be any configuration described in FIGS. 2A-2C. When the inductor coil is external to the CCM, significantly more input power is required to the HFG to compensate for the distance between the inductor coil and ferritic heating surfaces (as the magnetic field strength and coupling is a function distance). Further, with external induction coils (not immersed in the water) the heat loss through the coil isn't recovered into the water, and thus this heat loss plus the reduction in magnetic coupling and flux, slightly reduces the overall efficiency of magnetic induction heating, but which would still be better than heating water with an electric rod.

    [0114] The present invention features a tankless IETU and CCM configuration with a 2-stage IETU with inductor coils wrapped around the outside of CCM. Cold water enters the bottom right inlet FCM sensors and valve, and hot water exits the bottom left outlet FCM. Note that FIGS. 2A, 2C, 3, and 4 show a rectangular CCM, but the CCM can also be round along with the internal configuration of plates and pipes, and whereas round would have an advantage is an induction coil that is a solenoid. The present invention features a 2-stage IETU and CCM with a planar (pancake) inductor coil placed over each stage of the IETU and external to the CCM. Cold water enters the bottom inlet through the FCM sensors and valve assembly, then flows up through the 1st stage, then down through the 2nd stage, then hot water exits the bottom outlet through the FCM assembly.

    [0115] The present invention features a variant of the IETU as a single or multi-stage pass tankless water heater for a flow of water to be heated. The present invention features a single to multi-stage IETU with inductor coils placed over each stage. Depending on the capacity needed, a single stage can be used for small use (e.g. an RV) or a single faucet (e.g. dishwasher). For more capacity and/or colder inlet water temperatures, additional stages can be snapped on, as well as the length and width of the configuration, and input power be increased. Cold water enters at the bottom inlet through the FCM sensors and valve assembly and hot water exits at the top (or bottom) outlet (depending on the number of stages) through the FCM assembly. The present invention features a hexagon pipe with an inductor. The outer hexagonal pipe contains multiple hexagonal pipes within. Note that hexagonal pipes can be replaced with round pipes of different materials and texturization, as well as the inductor coil be round (solenoid) using round or square tubing.

    [0116] FIG. 1 is a diagram for an installation of the instantaneous preparation of hot water, in particular sanitary water, with the IIWH device upstream from the usage of the hot water in such fixtures in a residence or commercial building, including but not limited to, any number of the sink(s) SK, wash basin(s) WB, washing machine(s) WA, dishwasher(s) OW, bathtub (s) BT, and/or shower(s) SH either individually at one time or in any part or whole combination simultaneously.

    [0117] In some embodiments, the installation is composed of a device comprising an Inductive Energy Transfer Unit (IETU), and Composite Containment Module (CCM), for heating water in a configuration of a tank (reservoir) or configuration of a tankless (on-demand) stream of water, through which cold water flows into the device as provided by a pipe within the residence or commercial building that is downstream from the residence or commercial building's main water shut-off valve. In some embodiments, the IETU has an inductive heating circuit that employs an induction coil to heat a configuration of ferromagnetic surfaces that then conductively transfers heat directly to the water that touches those surfaces. The inductive heating coils are supplied with electrical power from a high-frequency generator (HFG).

    [0118] In some embodiments, the size and internal configuration of the IETU and CCM are dependent on the maximum reservoir of water in the tank, or the volumetric flow rate capacity in a tankless water heater and the inlet cold water temperature specified for the installation to heat a given amount of water in a tank by a given amount of degrees in a given amount of time with a given amount of power input to the HFG(s), or a supply of continuous stream of on-demand hot water at a given volumetric flow rate for a given amount of temperature rise (or alternatively for a given inlet temperature and set point hot water temperature the resulting volumetric flow rate for a given input power to the HFG). In some embodiments, the configuration is also dependent on the capacity of the electrical power source for the installation. In some embodiments, the activation of the installation follows when one or more fixture(s) is open and initiates a flow of water through the installation.

    [0119] In some embodiments, the IETU at its cold water inlet first has an anti-scale device, then an instrumentation and flow control valve assembly. The instrumentation includes a water flow rate sensor, pressure sensor, and temperature sensor. At the hot water outlet of the CCM is another instrumentation and flow control valve that replicates the water flow rate sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and flow control valve at the inlet. The inlet can have a heat trap nipple and Diffuser to produce a laminar flow of water into a tank configuration, and a Diffuser to evenly distribute a flow of water in a tankless configuration. The inlet and outlet also can include a heat trap nipple in a tank configuration to mitigate the flow of hot water stored into the piping system. In some embodiments, the output from these sensors is routed to the smart appliance (SA) computer 400 that includes the AI-enabled analytics software for the Flow Control Module (FCM), Safety Monitor & Control Module (SMCM), Utility Interface Module (UIM), Hot Water Reporting Module (HWRM), Communication Module (CM), Maintenance Management Module (MMM), and a portion of the Intelligent Power Supply Module (IPSM).

    [0120] In some embodiments, when a fixture valve for hot water is open, the FCM receives a demand signal for hot water from the flow control sensor for the capacity demanded of hot water. In some embodiments, the upstream temperature sensor signals the FCM of the cold water inlet temperature to the IETU, from which the FCM calculates the optimal electrical power requirement for the high-frequency generator (HGF) to the IETU to power the inductor and brings the inlet cold water temperature to the pre-set temperature for the outlet hot water at the demand capacity for hot water or the storage of water in a tank. In some embodiments, the downstream temperature sensor signals the FCM to adjust the power output accordingly of the high-frequency generators to match the hot water temperature from the IETU to the preset hot water temperature setting.

    [0121] Further, when hot water is demanded from the IIWH the Safety Monitor & Control Module (SMCM) performs operational and safety functions including (a) signaling the inlet control valve to partially close to reduce the production of hot water and/or reduce the temperature of the hot water if the SMCM flow sensor measures the demand of hot water capacity higher than or the cold water inlet temperature sensor measures the cold water temperature lower than the installed specifications of the IIWH, and (b) terminate power to the HFG should the SMCM outlet hot water temperature sensor measure the temperature above preset scalding temperature. In some embodiments, when these SMCM activations occur, the SA computer runs diagnostics and maintains safe operation until the restored or safe conditions are signaled by the FMC sensors. Operation decisions for the IIWH are made by AI-enabled analytics of the SA computer.

    [0122] In some embodiments, the SMCM performs a variety of additional operational and safety functions including (a) calculation of the pressure drop across the downstream and upstream pressure sensors of the IETU to determine if there is any blockage within the IETU, (b) calculation of statistical mean use of hot water to alert when there is a statistical abnormal use of hot water indicative of a malfunction at a hot water fixture, (c) calculation of statistical mean water pressure to alert when there is a statistical abnormal pressure drop indicative of a water leak in the residence, and (d) calculation of a prediction of a potential water leak in the residence. Blockage, forecast, and prediction calculations are made by AI-enabled analytics of the SA computer and/or the cloud AI computer.

    [0123] In some embodiments, the SA computer performs a variety of communication and control functions associated with the production of hot water as well as when there is no demand for hot water including (a) the UIM to enable water and electric utilities to temporarily reduce or terminate water/power to the IIWH, (b) HWRM that provides a range of reports, predictions, and forecasts on the use and cost of hot water usage, (c) CM that manages wi-fi and Bluetooth communication with the SA computer, (c) MMM that continuously monitors the operations of the IIWH for maintenance and predictive maintenance needs, and (d) that portion of the IPSM to enable operation of the IIWH with external power sources.

    [0124] In some embodiments, the SA computer and HFG are connected to the IPSM that cleans, conditions, and distributes the electric power and provides an electric port to connect external power sources and to switch to external sources of electric power should the residence/building power fail. In some embodiments, indicators are visible to the exterior of the IIWH installation by the SA Computer, HFG, and IPSM of the smart appliance to indicate when there is hot water demand, the set temperature of the hot water, the actual temperature of the hot water when the IETU is in use, alert lights for water leaks, predicted water leaks, water blockage in the IETU, and power and communication status. There is also a touchscreen or touchpad (and ports to connect external keyboard/mouse) for the user to enter commands associated with the app. In some embodiments, the SA includes the SA computer, high-frequency generator (HFG), and the IPSM in a compartment within the IIWH installation. The IETU of the IIWH includes the IETU, FCM sensors and control valve, and anti-scale device.

    [0125] FIGS. 2A-2C are a schematic, perspective view of a not-to-scale, embodiment of a single-pass tankless configuration of the IETU and CCM where water passes through a single stage of the assembly. This view excludes the inductor that heats the ferromagnetic surfaces of the IETU that are in contact with the flow of water. The diagram front view of the IETU has cold water that flows in at the bottom of the Composite Containment Module (CCM), first passing through the FCM sensors and control valve assembly. Hot water flows out the CCM at the top and then through the FCM sensors and control valve assembly to the fixtures.

    [0126] The innovative immersed inductor coil (planar for tank and solenoid for tankless configuration) heats water uniformly to its set point temperature. The heating of the ferritic surfaces (plate and pipes for tank and tankless configurations, respectively) is via the High Frequency Generator (HFG). Hot water flows out through the FCM assembly at the top of the CCM. The tank configuration also includes a heat trap nipple at the outlet, a drain valve at the bottom, and a Temperature & Pressure (T&P) value at the top. The size, shape, material, and number of CCMs are highly variable, as well as the size, shape, and wire (for planar) or tubing (for solenoid) of the inductor coil, as well as the size, shape, texture, and composition of the ferritic surfaces. These variabilities of the IETU and CCM are exceptional strengths that are used to accommodate any number of hot water capacities and available power input sources. Tank configurations can operate with single phase input of 120V/208V/220V/240V whilst tankless configurations operate with single phase input of 208V/220V/240V.

    [0127] In some embodiments, the IETU has an advantageous design in that all heating surfaces are in direct contact with the water and when the inductor coil is immersed in water its heat losses are also captured by the water (thus maximizing available heating). In some embodiments, the IETU has a further advantageous design when compared to inductive heating configurations that use a serpentine of fins, as water flow passes over one side of a fin, it must then be turned to be in contact with the other side of the same fin. This constitutes a double-pass system. The IETU heating surfaces are in contact with the water on both sides; i.e. for the ferritic plate with the pancake coil and the pipes for the solenoid coil. As such, for a plate with the same size surface area as a single side of a fin or pipe that has the same circumference and length as the width and length of a fin, respectively, the water in contact with the plate or pipe at single pass can be about twice the area of a single side of the fin in the serpentine configuration that has to turn the same volume of water on itself to contact both sides of the fin.

    [0128] The shape, size, material, and texturization of the surface of ferritic heating surfaces of the IETU, as well as the size, material, and shape of the CCM, can have wide variations to meet the wide variation of hot water demands and input electricity. In some embodiments, the IIWH has a further advantage in that it can be configured as a tankless (on-demand) device where the inductor coils can be on the outside of the CCM or immersed in water within the CCM, or configured as a tank device where the inductor coils are immersed with the water of the CCM to operate with power input ranging from 120V to 240V.

    [0129] FIGS. 5A-5B is a schematic, perspective view of another variant of the IETU as a not-to-scale embodiment of a dual-pass tankless configuration of the IETU device where water passes twice through the device. The front and side view of the IETU has cold water entering from right through the FCM sensors and control valve, then passing up the holes in the plate and pipes to reach the top of the IETU where the water flow is then turned to flow down a second series of pipes and holes. Hot water flows out at the bottom left and then through the FCM sensors and control valve to the fixtures. The dashed line represents the solid plate divider that separates the two passes of the water flow. The configuration of the plates and pipes that water passes through can be any configuration described in FIGS. 2A-2C.

    [0130] FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective view of the IETU as a not-to-scale embodiment of a dual pass tankless IETU to show the inductor wrapped around the IETU heating box along with a high-frequency generator (HFG) that powers the inductor. Cold water enters the bottom right inlet and hot water exits the bottom left outlet through the FCM sensors and control valve. The wrapping of the inductor is figurative and not representative of the size of the coil or the number of wrappings.

    [0131] FIGS. 7A-7B are a schematic, perspective view of the IETU as a not-to-scale embodiment of a dual pass tankless IETU with a front and side view of the IETU with a pancake inductor that covers the front, back, and top of the IETU along with a high-frequency generator that powers the inductor. The wrapping of the inductor is figurative and not representative of the size of the coil or the number of wrappings.

    [0132] FIGS. 8A-8B are a schematic, perspective view of another variant of the IETU as a not-to-scale embodiment of a single or multi-stage IETU. In this configuration, there can be one or many stages that water flows through. FIG. 6A is a front view, and depending on the capacity needed and/or cold water inlet temperature, a single stage can be used for small use (e.g. Recreational Vehicle) or a single faucet (e.g. dishwasher), or more capacity or colder inlet water temperature, additional stages can be snapped-on. Cold water enters at the bottom inlet through the FCM sensors and control valve and hot water exits at the top (or bottom) outlet (depending on a number of stages) through the FCM sensors and control valve. FIG. 6B is a front and top-down view of the hexagon pipe with the surrounding inductor. The outer hexagonal pipe contains a configuration of multiple hexagon pipes within a close-packed-hexagonal (CPH) formation. The diameter and length of the pipe package with the number of CPH pipes contained therein are configured for a variety of hot water capacity demands and cold water inlet temperatures.

    [0133] In some embodiments, the present invention features a system (100) for heating a flow of water comprising a heating circuit and composite containment module (200) fluidly coupled to a water source fluidly coupled to a plurality of water fixtures (600). In some embodiments, the heating circuit (200) may comprise an inlet (202) configured to accept water, an outlet (204), and a water composite containment module (220). In some embodiments, the water containment module may include one or more plates (224) disposed within the CCM (220), and a plurality of pipes (226) fluidly coupled to the inlet (202), the one or more plates (224), and the outlet (204). The one or more plates (224), and the plurality of pipes (226) may all comprise a ferromagnetic material. In the prior discussion, the inductor coil resides on the outside of the CCM, whilst there are embodiments where the inductor coil resides within the CCM and is immersed in the water. This latter embodiment is more innovative as it recovers all the heating from the ferritic surfaces and inductor coil assembly.

    [0134] In some embodiments, the water containment unit (220) may be configured to allow the flow of water to travel within and between the plurality of pipes (226). The heating circuit and composite containment module (200) may comprise an inductor (210)typically fashioned in a solenoid styleexternal to the composite containment module (220). In some embodiments, actuating the inductor (210) may induce magnetic eddy currents in the ferromagnetic surfaces of one or more plates (224), and the plurality of pipes (226) to heat the flow of water. In some embodiments, the heating circuit and composite containment unit (200) may further comprise an electric high-frequency generator (430) operatively coupled to the inductor (210). In some embodiments, the electric high-frequency generator (430) may be configured to actuate the inductor (210).

    [0135] In some embodiments, the system (100) may further comprise a configuration indicative of a tank water heater to store water at a pre-set temperature within a composite containment unit(s) (220). The heating circuit and composite containment module (200) may comprise an inductor (210)typically fashioned in a planar (pancake) styleinternal to and immersed in the water of the composite containment module (220). Note, that the inductor is typically fashioned in a planar (pancake) style but can also be a solenoid. In some embodiments, actuating the inductor (210) may induce magnetic eddy currents in the ferromagnetic surfaces of one or more plates (224) (or if a solenoid style inductor is used, one or more ferritic pipes) to heat the water. In some embodiments, the heating circuit and composite containment unit (200) may further comprise an electric high-frequency generator (430) operatively coupled to the inductor (210). In some embodiments, the electric high-frequency generator (430) may be configured to actuate the inductor (210). In some embodiments, the system (100) may further comprise an alternative configuration indicative of a tankless water heater to allow a flow of water to be heated to a pre-set temperature within a composite containment unit (220).

    [0136] The heating circuit and composite containment module (200) may comprise an inductor (210)typically fashioned in a solenoid styleinternal to and immersed in the flow of water within the composite containment module (220). In some embodiments, actuating the inductor (210) may induce magnetic eddy currents in the ferromagnetic surfaces of one or more plates (224) and pipes (226) to heat the water. In some embodiments, the heating circuit and composite containment unit (200) may further comprise an electric high-frequency generator (430) operatively coupled to the inductor (210). In some embodiments, the electric high-frequency generator (430) may be configured to actuate the inductor (210).

    [0137] In some embodiments, the system (100), in the tank or tankless configuration, may further comprise a plurality of sensors (300) comprising, but not limited to, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, or a combination thereof. At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) may be disposed at the inlet (202). At least one pressure sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one flow rate sensor of the plurality of sensors (300) may be disposed at the outlet (204). In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors (300) may further comprise a valve configured to prevent and/or allow the flow of water along the sensors upon actuation.

    [0138] In some embodiments, in tank or tankless configuration, the system (100) may further comprise a Smart Appliance (400) communicatively coupled to the high frequency generator (430) and the plurality of sensors (300). In some embodiments, the Smart Appliance (400) may comprise a processor capable of executing computer-readable instructions, and a memory component operatively coupled to the processor. The memory component may comprise artificial intelligence models configured to accept data from the plurality of sensors (300) as input and generate a prediction of potential water system failure as output.

    [0139] In some embodiments, the memory component may further comprise a User Settings module comprising computer-readable instructions for setting based on user input, a temperature for the flow of water or reservoir of water, activating, based on user setting, an automatic inlet shutoff setting for the heating of water in response to a leak within the composite containment module (220), activating, based on user setting, an automatic outlet shutoff setting for the heating of water in response to a leak within or downstream of the composite containment module (220), an unusual amount of hot water usage, or a combination thereof, activating, based on user setting, a temporary reduction of water, power, or a combination thereof to the heating of water, activating, based on user setting, a scalding safety governor to prevent the heating circuit of water from producing water at a temperature above a set threshold, and based on user setting, a number, and duration of alerts triggered by the Smart Appliance (400).

    [0140] In some embodiments, the memory component may further comprise a Flow Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions with artificial intelligence for activating the electric high-frequency generator (430) upon activation of one or more water fixtures, reducing in the case of a tankless configuration, in response to an inability to provide the flow of water at the temperature determined by the user setting, the flow of water, and alerting a user in response to reduction of the flow of water in response to the inability to provide the flow of water at the temperature determined by the user settings.

    [0141] In some embodiments, the memory component may further comprise a Safety Monitor and Control Module comprising computer-readable instructions with artificial intelligence for detecting leaks, blockages, or a combination thereof within, upstream of, or downstream of the composite containment module (220), which may detect potential water system failure, detecting excessive water usage, and close the inlet (202), the outlet (204), or both in response to a detected leak, blockage, predicted pipe failure, excessive water usage, or a combination thereof. Further this module can reduce power to the electric high-frequency generator (430) if the heating circuit (200) is producing water at a temperature above the set threshold or if the inlet (202), outlet (204), or both are closed. The safety scalding governor and all other detections may automatically (if selected in the User Settings module) run a diagnostic and alert the user in response to the irregular performance of the heating circuit.

    [0142] In some embodiments, the memory component may further comprise a Utility Interface Module comprising computer-readable instructions with artificial intelligence for connecting the system (100) to a utility supplier, to temporarily suspend or reduce the operation of the heating circuit of water to accommodate reductions requested by the utility supplier, alerting the user in response to temporary suspension or reduction of operation, and gathering consumption data from the plurality of sensors (300). In some embodiments, the memory component may further comprise a Hot Water Reporting module comprising computer-readable instructions with artificial intelligence for reporting a cost and trend of power used to heat water, reporting a cost and trend of hot water consumption, predicting a future trend of hot water consumption, and forecasting a future cost of water and power used by the heating circuit.

    [0143] In some embodiments, the memory component may further comprise a Communication module comprising computer-readable instructions for managing wireless interfaces between the system (100) and one or more external devices. The memory component may further comprise an Intelligent Power Supply Module comprising computer-readable instructions for receiving electric power from a power source, cleaning, conditioning, and surge-protecting electric power to the Smart Appliance (400), and regulating power to the electric high-frequency generator (430). In some embodiments, the memory component may further comprise a Maintenance Monitor Module comprising computer-readable instructions for alerting the user for current or predictive maintenance needs, and running diagnostics on the heating circuit and one or more modules of the Smart Appliance (400) at a fixed interval. The system (100) may be communicatively coupled to one or more external devices, the one or more external devices comprising a smartphone, a server, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, other mobile computing devices, or a combination thereof. Note that the presently claimed invention is capable of being implemented in both tankless and tank configurations.

    [0144] In some embodiments, a material of each planar heating surface (215) is paired to an inductor (210) and each inductor (210) may comprise a wire coil having a plurality of turns. The wire coil may be bound in high-temperature plastic, epoxy, enamel, or a combination thereof. Each inductor has two heating surfaces, one on top of the coil and the other on the bottom. The inductor assembly may be fabricated by mounting and enclosing the wire coil in a high-temperature plastic chassis that is filled and sealed with epoxy. Insulation is placed over the Litz wire between the coil and through the containment wall to ensure the wire doesn't come into contact with the water. Planar coils are for tank configuration, while solenoid coils are made of coated copper tubes for tankless configuration. In some embodiments, a solenoid coil may be used with the multi-tank.

    [0145] The present invention features the use of grid-friendly low power of only 120V 15 A (1800 W) for water heating. This allows the present invention to fulfill consumer expectations to take a 10-minute shower, at an average consumption of hot water of 1 to 1.2 GPM, within 60 minutes of a cold start (e.g. when a new water heater is installed). This translates to a technical target to heat 10- to 12-gallons of water by 60 F. (to 120 F.) in 60 minutes (enough for a 10-minute shower) that would cover the inlet cold water temperature (of 60 F.) across the Southern half of the U.S. The present invention is configured to provide sufficient hot water for peak demand periods of the typical home, which translates to a technical target of a 40-gallon capacity tank (equivalent to 36-gallon storage) of hot water (at 120 F.) to supply 20-to 30-gallon each during morning demand (6 AM to 9 AM) and evening demand (5 PM to 9 PM). Fulfilling these key parameters with low power involves using (1) a cluster of 12-gallon tanks (vs a single 36-gallon tank as is done today by all major water heater manufacturers), (2) laminar injection of cold inlet water at the bottom of the tank (vs turbulent injection as done by all major water heater manufacturers) to minimize thermal pollution of hot water within the tank and maximize the available hot water, (3) heating water in the tank from the bottom for uniform tank temperature, and (4) and heating water with magnetic induction was employed.

    [0146] The present invention features magnetic induction heating using magnetism to induce eddy currents to heat a ferritic material (e.g. an induction stove heats ferritic cookware to cook food). This can achieve a heating efficiency of over 97% (vs a peak 93% for an electric heating rod), and with only 1800 W of grid-friendly power, is sufficient to heat 12 gallons of water in 60 F. in 60 minutes. 12 gallons of hot water at 120 F. is sufficient to cover the consumer's expectation to be able to take one 10-minute shower (and even one shave) within 60 minutes of a cold start. A configuration of 312-gallon tanks (36-gallon storage) and laminar injection of cold water (to maximize the available hot water stored in the tank) is sufficient hot water to cover the morning and evening peak hot water demand cycle of 20- to 30-gallons each. The water is heated from the bottom of the tank to ensure all 12-gallons are uniformly at the set-point temperature. The use of grid-friendly 1.8 kW avoids the grid-intensive 4.5 kW-6 kW used by electric heating rods in electric and hybrid heat pump water heaters.

    [0147] To achieve over 97% efficiency, three key methods were employed. Specifically, (1) the use of magnetic induction, which is more efficient than an electric heating rod, and (2) for tank configurations, immersion of the magnetic induction coil in the water within the water containment module (vs being external to the water containment unit), that which increases magnetic coupling and flux between the induction coil and the magnetic heating surfaces, provides direct contact between the magnetically induced heating surfaces and the water, and captures of all heat generated by the magnetically induced heating surfaces and the induction coil, and (3) use of ultra-low conductivity insulation (k<8.5 W/m2/0K) to maintain uniform tank temperature and minimize standby energy loss.

    [0148] For tankless water heater configuration, the induction coil can be either external to the water containment unit or immersed within the water containment unit. Induction coils are of planar (pancake) design for tanks, and solenoid design for tankless configurations though other designs can be used with equal effect. Pancake coils are often designed with wire (e.g. Litz wire) as the inductor, and solenoid coils with copper tubing (e.g. %4 OD with no ferritic residual material) though other designs can be used with equal effect. When the induction coil is immersed in the water, the coil must be coated to prevent contact of the inductor material with the water (to prevent shorting the coil), which can be done with any number of materials that are consistent with safe drinking water, resistant to breakdown and corrosion over the course of years when immersed in water, and withstand a temperature variation duty cycle ranging from 40 F. to 250 F. over the course of years (e.g. high temperature plastic, epoxy, enamel, etc.).

    [0149] To mitigate damage to the water containment unit from rust, a non-steel composite material is used that has characteristics consistent with safe drinking water, can pressure test to 300 PSI, and operate at up to 150 PSI and a temperature up to 150 F. over the course of years. This material may also provide thermal insulation >R 24 and is cost-competitive to build to enable affordability without tax credits/grants, whose characteristics can be designed with one composite material or multi-materials (to enable the necessary mechanical and thermal properties, and costs). For example, a blow-molded tank of high-density polyethylene that is wrapped in fiber-reinforced plastic provides the required safe drinking water and mechanical characteristics. The tank is then further wrapped with insulation with ultra-low k-value insulation to reduce energy consumption during heating mode and energy loss during standby mode, both of which increase efficiency and Uniform Energy Factor rating (UEF) by minimizing heat loss.

    [0150] To mitigate damage to the water containment unit, immersed inductor coil, and ferritic heating surfaces from sediment, a descaler is incorporated at the cold water inlet to containment. The nature of a magnetic field discourages scaling by changing the molecular structure of calcium carbonate that typically exists in two crystalline forms of calcite and aragonite, of which calcite is more stable and precipitates as hard scale. An electromagnetic field can enable the formation of aragonite which is a smaller, less adhesive crystal that can remain suspended in the water instead of attaching to a surface.

    [0151] The present invention implements the use of an onboard computer with AI for automated dynamic 247365 power management to deliver hot water with the least amount of power. The AI builds a dynamic profile of daily hot water usage, and for a tank water heater configuration, determines when to turn off power to save energy, how low to let the temperature fall, when to restart heating, and how high to raise the water temperature. For example, on December 25th, the AI learned (for its house) that the hot water morning peak demand cycle begins at 10 AM (rather than the average start of 6:30 AM), and from the prior day hot water demand has confirmed there are no guests staying at the house and calculates the time to turn off standby water heating to conserve energy.

    [0152] The AI then calculates from the time hot water demand stopped the night before until 10 AM the next day, and in the ensuing time, it measures the ambient air temperature to monitor and project the temperature decay within the tank. The AI then assesses an 80% probability to meet any unexpected hot water demand and allows the water temperature to fall to 116 F. and to reengage heating to bring water temperature to the set-point 120 F. by 8:45 AM to be within one standard deviation to the forecast start hot water demand cycle time for that date.

    [0153] The present invention features the use of an onboard computer and Wi-Fi (to send sensor data to the cloud) for AI for 247365 on-board and IoT factory monitoring, predicting, mitigating, alerting, and reporting. The computing is configured for continuous monitoring for non-leakage faults; e.g., reduced heating efficiency from the coil assembly, excess heat leakage from the CCM, non-uniform tank temperature; excess thermal pollution from inlet water indicative of a diffuser clog, etc. The computer is additionally configured for predicting leaks and faults and alerting via a smartphone mobile app for device maintenance, faults, and predicted leakage and faults. The computer is additionally configured for reporting via a smartphone mobile app alerts sent, hot water usage and costs, as well as forecasting up to 12 months in advance hot water usage and costs.

    [0154] The present invention features the use of AI for 247365 on-board leak detection and alert in three modes to signal a water leak in the water containment unit, home piping downstream of the water containment unit, or home piping upstream of the water containment. For example, to detect a leak in the device, the AI schedules periodic pressure tests during (what it has determined as) standby hours (non-operational) of each day that isolate the device by closing its inlet and outlet valves and measuring the pressure across the valves to assure no pressure drop due to leakage. If a pressure drop is detected, then the AI keeps the valves closed to mitigate leakage of water and alert the consumer via smartphone app, as well as noticed on the device's display screen, as well as alert the assigned plumber (if one has been designated by the consumer). If no plumber is assigned then display several plumbers with their phone numbers in the area.

    [0155] The computer system can include a desktop computer, a workstation computer, a laptop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet, a handheld computer (including a smartphone), a server, a supercomputer, a wearable computer (including a SmartWatch), or the like and can include any one of digital electronic circuitry, firmware, hardware, memory, a computer storage medium, a computer program, a processor (including a programmed processor), an imaging apparatus, wired/wireless communication components, or the like. The computing system may include a desktop computer with a screen, a tower, and components to connect the two. The tower can store digital images, numerical data, text data, or any other kind of data in binary form, hexadecimal form, octal form, or any other data format in the memory component. The data/images can also be stored in a server communicatively coupled to the computer system. The images can also be divided into a matrix of pixels, known as a bitmap that indicates a color for each pixel along the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. The pixels can include a digital value of one or more bits, defined by the bit depth. Each pixel may comprise three values, each value corresponding to a major color component (red, green, and blue). The size of each pixel in data can range from 8 bits to 24 bits. The network or a direct connection interconnects the imaging apparatus and the computer system.

    [0156] The term processor encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable microprocessor, a microcontroller comprising a microprocessor and a memory component, an embedded processor, a digital signal processor, a media processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing. The apparatus can include special-purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). The logic circuitry may comprise multiplexers, registers, arithmetic logic units (ALUs), computer memory, look-up tables, flip-flops (FF), wires, input blocks, output blocks, read-only memory, randomly accessible memory, electronically-erasable programmable read-only memory, flash memory, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The apparatus also can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a cross-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combination of one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment can realize various different computing model infrastructures, such as web services, distributed computing and grid computing infrastructures. The processor may include one or more processors of any type, such as central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), special-purpose signal or image processors, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), tensor processing units (TPUs), and so forth.

    [0157] A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

    [0158] Embodiments of the subject matter and the operations described herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, a data processing apparatus.

    [0159] A computer storage medium can be, or can be included in, a computer-readable storage device, a computer-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more of them. Moreover, while a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium can be a source or destination of computer program instructions encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal. The computer storage medium can also be, or can be included in, one or more separate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, drives, solid-state drives, or other storage devices). The operations described in this specification can be implemented as operations performed by a data processing apparatus on data stored on one or more computer-readable storage devices or received from other sources.

    [0160] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, R.F., Bluetooth, storage media, computer buses, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C#, Ruby, or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, such as Pascal, FORTRAN, BASIC, or similar programming languages, programming languages that have both object-oriented and procedural aspects, such as the C programming language, C++, Python, or the like, conventional functional programming languages such as Scheme, Common Lisp, Elixir, or the like, conventional scripting programming languages such as PHP, Perl, Javascript, or the like, or conventional logic programming languages such as PROLOG, ASAP, Datalog, or the like.

    [0161] The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

    [0162] The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform actions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

    [0163] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing actions in accordance with instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks.

    [0164] However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive), to name just a few. Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry.

    [0165] Computers typically include known components, such as a processor, an operating system, system memory, memory storage devices, input-output controllers, input-output devices, power supplies, fans, user interface devices, and display devices. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art that there are many possible configurations and components of a computer and may also include cache memory, a data backup unit, and many other devices. To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., an LCD (liquid crystal display), LED (light emitting diode) display, or OLEO (organic light emitting diode) display, for displaying information to the user.

    [0166] Examples of input devices include a keyboard, a touch-screen, cursor control devices (e.g., a mouse or a trackball), a microphone, a scanner, and so forth, wherein the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be in any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. Examples of output devices include a display device (e.g., a monitor or projector), speakers, a printer, a network card, and so forth. Display devices may include display devices that provide visual information, this information typically may be logically and/or physically organized as an array of pixels. In addition, a computer can interact with a user by sending documents to and receiving documents from a device that is used by the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on a user's client device in response to requests received from the web browser.

    [0167] An interface controller may also be included that may comprise any of a variety of known or future software programs for providing input and output interfaces. For example, interfaces may include what are generally referred to as Graphical User Interfaces (often referred to as GUI's) that provide one or more graphical representations to a user. Interfaces are typically enabled to accept user inputs using means of selection or input known to those of ordinary skill in the related art. In some implementations, the interface may be a touch screen that can be used to display information and receive input from a user. In the same or alternative embodiments, applications on a computer may employ an interface that includes what are referred to as command line interfaces (often referred to as CLI's). CLI's typically provide a text based interaction between an application and a user. Typically, command line interfaces present output and receive input as lines of text through display devices. For example, some implementations may include what are referred to as a shell such as Unix Shells known to those of ordinary skill in the related art, or Microsoft Windows Powershell that employs object-oriented type programming architectures such as the Microsoft.NET framework.

    [0168] Those of ordinary skill in the related art will appreciate that interfaces may include one or more GUI's, CLI's or a combination thereof. A processor may include a commercially available processor such as a Celeron, Core, or Pentium processor made by Intel Corporation, a SPARC processor made by Sun Microsystems, an Athlon, Sempron, Phenom, or Opteron processor made by AMO Corporation, or it may be one of other processors that are or will become available. Some embodiments of a processor may include what is referred to as multi-core processor and/or be enabled to employ parallel processing technology in a single or multi-core configuration. For example, a multi-core architecture typically comprises two or more processor execution cores. In the present example, each execution core may perform as an independent processor that enables parallel execution of multiple threads. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the related field will appreciate that a processor may be configured in what is generally referred to as 32 or 64 bit architectures, or other architectural configurations now known or that may be developed in the future.

    [0169] A processor typically executes an operating system, which may be, for example, a Windows type operating system from the Microsoft Corporation; the Mac OS X operating system from Apple Computer Corp.; a Unix or Linux-type operating system available from many vendors or what is referred to as an open source; Android from Google, another or a future operating system; or some combination thereof. An operating system interfaces with firmware and hardware in a well-known manner, and facilitates the processor in coordinating and executing the functions of various computer programs that may be written in a variety of programming languages. An operating system, typically in cooperation with a processor, coordinates and executes functions of the other components of a computer. An operating system also provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, and communication control and related services, all in accordance with known techniques.

    [0170] Connecting components may be properly termed as computer-readable media. For example, if code or data is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technology such as infrared, radio, or microwave signals, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technology are included in the definition of media. Combinations of media are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

    [0171] The present invention may comprise or implement a neural network or machine learning model for AI tasks. The neural network or model may be stored, trained, and/or executed entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. The neural network or model may be stored in the form of program code, as described above. The neural network, in some embodiments, may be a perceptron neural network, a feed forward neural network, a multilayer perceptron neural network, a convolutional neural network, a radial basis functional neural network, a recurrent neural network, a long short-term memory neural network, a sequence-to-sequence neural network model, a modular neural network, or the like. In some embodiments, the present invention may comprise or implement algorithmic intelligence methods or any other known form of AI technology.

    [0172] The present application includes disclosures of multiple sets of computer-readable instructions contained on memory components and executed by processors configured to execute computer-readable instructions. Note that the instructions listed in the claims and specification of this application do not necessarily need to be executed in the order they are listed. In fact, the computer-readable instructions recited in this application can be executed in any order any number of times as directed by the user, the computing device, or the needs of the system at the given time.

    [0173] Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are not drawn to scale. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase comprising includes embodiments that could be described as consisting essentially of or consisting of, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase consisting essentially of or consisting of is met.

    [0174] The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawing