Abstract: A flame rod analysis system, methods for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod, and circuits for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod. The flame rod analysis system comprises energy storage connectable to a flame rod, a pulsed source connected to the energy storage and providing a voltage pulse or a current pulse, and a buffer to allow a processor to measure a buffered voltage at various time points. Flame rod analysis systems can distinguish between various flame conditions (no flame, low flame, etc.) while simultaneously characterizing the condition of the flame rod (shorted to ground, contaminated, etc.). Some flame rod analysis systems can directly measure the resistance of the flame rod.

Abstract: A gas-fired appliance includes a tank configured to store a fluid to be heated, a powered anode extending into the tank and configured to generate an electric anode current, and a combustion chamber including a burner configured to generate products of combustion. The appliance also includes an exhaust structure, a heat exchanger, and an electronic processor coupled to the powered anode. The products of combustion flow from the combustion chamber to the exhaust structure via the heat exchanger. The electronic processor is configured to determine a duty cycle of the burner, determine whether the duty cycle of the burner exceeds a predetermined threshold, increase a magnitude of a protection parameter of the powered anode from a first value to a second value when the duty cycle of the burner exceeds the predetermined threshold, and control the powered anode according to the second value of the protection parameter.

Abstract: A welding system including a welding electrode, a closed-loop cooling device, and a vent. The closed-loop cooling device is configured to cool the welding electrode. The closed-loop cooling device includes a pump and a water line. The vent is located along a path of the water line. The vent is configured to release air trapped within the water line.

Abstract: A water heater system includes a tank having internal capacity no greater than 1 gallon, a water inlet, and a water outlet. A flow of water into the tank through the water inlet and out of the tank through the water outlet is a downstream water flow. An absence of downstream water flow is a standby condition of the water heater. The water heater includes a heating element for heating water in the tank, a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of the water flowing into the tank, and a second temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of the water flowing out of the tank. The water heater further includes a damper upstream of the second temperature sensor to reduce fluctuations in the temperature readings of the second temperature sensor to reduce false detection of downstream water flow.

Abstract: A method for determining flow velocity in a flow path, comprises defining a flow path for a fluid, the fluid flowing in a downstream direction that is opposite an upstream direction. A thermally-conductive element is exposed to the flow path. A known amount of heat is applied to a first portion of the thermally-conductive element and a sensed temperature is sensed at a second portion of the thermally-conductive element downstream of the first portion. The known amount of heat and the sensed temperature are used to determine a flow velocity of the fluid in the flow path.

Abstract: A water heater venting system, the water heater venting system comprising a main exhaust vent; and a first water heater in communication with a second water heater. The first water heater including an inlet, a blower assembly including a motor, an exhaust vent coupled to the main exhaust vent, a fluid flowpath created by fluid communication between the inlet, the blower assembly, and the exhaust vent, a sensor positioned along the fluid flowpath, and a controller electrically coupled to the sensor and the motor of the blower assembly, the controller controlling the speed of the motor based on at least one of an input from the sensor and an input from the second water heater.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fluid filtration, such as, for example, filtration systems and methods, filtration units, pitchers, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: System and method for grid load-up dual set point. The invention provides a method of operating a water heater having a tank configured to store water. The method includes heating, via a first heating element, a first portion of the water to a first temperature set point. The method also includes heating, via a second heating element, a second portion of the water to a second temperature set point, the second temperature set point being greater than the first temperature set point. The method additionally includes receiving a load-up signal from a grid controller, and heating, via the first heating element, the first portion of the water to the second temperature set point upon receiving the load-up signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an ignition temperature control apparatus of a gas water heater, comprising: a heat exchanger made of stainless steel; a combustion device which supplies high-temperature flue gas to the heat exchanger; a water passage communicated with the heat exchanger; a first temperature detection device provided on the heat exchanger or on the water passage; a controller, wherein if a temperature detected by the first temperature detection device is lower than or equal to a first preset temperature or a rate of decline of a temperature detected by the first temperature detection device is higher than or equal to a first preset value the controller controls the combustion device to operate in such a state that a requirement for thermal bearing capacity of the heat exchanger made of stainless steel is satisfied.

Abstract: A method of determining an abnormal condition in a water heater. The method including sensing, via a temperature sensor, a plurality of temperatures and filtering, using a first time constant, the plurality of temperatures to produce a first plurality of filtered temperatures. The method further including determining, via a controller, if at least one temperature of the first plurality of filtered temperatures crosses a first temperature threshold, and when at least one temperature of the first plurality of filtered temperatures crosses a second temperature threshold, filtering, using a second time constant, the plurality of temperatures to produce a second plurality of filtered temperatures. The method further including initiating, via the controller, a shutdown procedure when at least one temperature of the second plurality of filtered temperatures, crosses a third temperature threshold.

Abstract: The invention discloses a condensing gas water heater, a condensing heat exchanger as well as heat exchanger plates. The condensing heat exchanger comprises: a housing and at least one heat exchanger plate disposed in the housing; the heat exchanger plate comprises a first metal board and a second metal board butting each other, wherein a surface of the first metal board and a surface of the second metal board which butt each other are butting surfaces, and two outer surfaces opposite to the butting surfaces are a first surface and a second surface, respectively; at least one of the first metal board and the second metal board is formed with a convex flow guide portion along a direction away from the butting surface; the first metal board and the second metal board form a fluid passage via the flow guide portion.

Abstract: System and methods of operating a water heater receiving power from an electrical grid. The water heater includes a heating element, a controller, and a first control circuit. The first control circuit including an energizing terminal and a microprocessor. The method includes connecting an energizing terminal of the first control circuit between a power output terminal of the controller and the heating element, receiving driving power from the controller based on a temperature signal. The method also includes receiving control signals from the controller based on electrical grid information, and selectively energizing the heating element, by the microprocessor of the first control circuit and through the energizing terminal of the first control circuit based on the control signals.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank for storing water to be heated and a thermosiphon tube in the water tank. The thermosiphon tube has a first end in a bottom portion of the water tank and a second end in a top portion of the water tank. At least a portion of a condenser tube of a heat pump is surrounded by the thermosiphon tube to define a water flow channel between the thermosiphon tube and the condenser tube. The condenser tube is at an elevated temperature compared to water temperature in the water flow channel due to a refrigerant cycle of the heat pump. A water pump is configured to flow water through the water flow channel to heat the water in the water flow channel and deliver the heated water into the top portion of the water tank through the second end of the thermosiphon tube.

Abstract: A method for providing a safe and healthy water and water-based product, comprising: testing pretreated reverse osmosis water to determine whether it meets a first set of pre-defined specifications; introducing a pre-defined nutrient composition into the water, wherein the predefined nutrient composition comprising one or more of mineral nutrients, trace elements and nutritional supplements; testing the water to determine whether it meets a second set of predefined specifications; and disinfecting the water along with its container by UV irradiation from a UV light source to obtain a water product.

Abstract: A water heater including a storage tank including a water inlet and a water outlet, a pump, an upper temperature sensor, a lower temperature sensor, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive an upper temperature signal and a lower temperature signal, compare the upper temperature signal to a sum of a setpoint temperature threshold minus a temperature differential, and compare the lower temperature signal to a high limit temperature threshold. The electronic processor is further configured to activate the pump in response to the first upper temperature signal being less than the sum of the setpoint temperature threshold minus the temperature differential and the first lower temperature signal being less than the predetermined high limit temperature threshold.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present application disclose a combustion control system of a gas water heater or wall-hanging boiler, and a control method thereof. The system comprises: a flue gas channel consisted of a combustor, a heat exchanger and a stepless speed regulating fan and a smoke tube, which are connected sequentially; a control unit connected to a signal input end of the stepless speed regulating fan; a wind pressure sensor assembly that detects a pressure signal upstream of an impeller of the stepless speed regulating fan, a signal output end of the wind pressure sensor assembly being connected to the control unit; the control unit comprising a storage for storing a correspondence relationship between the pressure signal upstream of the stepless speed regulating fan and a thermal load of the combustor, and a controller that controls operation of the stepless speed regulating fan according to the correspondence relationship.

Abstract: A pressure probe assembly for attachment to a venturi of a gas-fired appliance, where the venturi includes a body having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a wall defining a mixing chamber extending from the inlet end to the outlet end about an axis. A support member is detachably coupled to the mixing chamber. A first pressure probe is coupled to the support member and has a first pressure tap disposed substantially adjacent the axis. A second pressure probe is coupled to the support member and has a second pressure tap disposed substantially adjacent the mixing chamber wall. Also disclosed is a gas-fired appliance, such as a water heater, including the pressure probe assembly.

Abstract: A flow sensor includes a tube having a tube wall with a window in it. A thermally-conductive base covers the window and has mounted to it a heater and a sensor of a hot film anemometer flow sensor. The base is sealed to the window to resist leakage of fluid from the flow path through the window under normal operating pressures. The hot film anemometer flow sensor is used to measure fluid flow through the tube.

Abstract: A water heating system includes a tank, one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system, and a first controller mounted on the tank. The first controller is coupled to the one or more heating elements and includes logic to activate and deactivate the heating elements according to a first threshold value. The water heater also includes a second controller that is selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater. The first controller is configured to receive the first threshold value from the second controller and control the one or more heating elements based on the received threshold value, and to control the one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system in a physical absence of the second controller.

Abstract: A gas premix burner and a gas water heater. The gas premix burner has a combustion direction, the gas premix burner can be matched and connected with a premix chamber that is disposed upstream the combustion direction of the gas premix burner, gas and air can be burned by the gas premix burner after mixed in the premix chamber; the gas premix burner comprising: a burner substrate, a main combustion hole provided on the burner substrate; an auxiliary combustion hole disposed downstream the main combustion hole along the combustion direction on the burner substrate; an auxiliary flame of the auxiliary combustion hole intersects a main flame of the main combustion hole.