Modular tankless water heater
A tankless water heater module is disclosed and includes a casing having a first end, a second end and a plurality of conduits formed therein. A top head manifold is coupled to the first end of the casing and includes a port aligned with each of the plurality of conduits. A bottom head manifold is coupled to the second end of the casing and includes a port aligned with each of the plurality of conduits. An immersion heating element extends through each port of the top head manifold and into the conduit aligned therewith. A flow path extends through the plurality of conduits, the plurality of conduits coupled in fluid communication by channels between ports of the top head manifold and a channel between ports of the bottom head manifold.
This invention relates to water heaters.
More particularly, the present invention relates to water heaters of the type employing resistive heating elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe need for heated fluids, and in particular heated water, has long been recognized. Conventionally, water has been heated by heating elements, either electrically or with gas burners, while stored in a tank or reservoir. While effective, energy efficiency and water conservation can be poor. As an example, water stored in a hot water tank is maintained at a desired temperature at all times. Thus, unless the tank is well insulated, heat loss through radiation can occur, requiring additional input of energy to maintain the desired temperature. In effect, continual heating of the stored water is required. Additionally, the tank is often positioned at a distance from the point of use, such as the hot water outlet. In order to obtain the desired temperature water, cooled water in the conduits connecting the point of use (outlet) and the hot water tank must be purged before the hot water from the tank reaches the outlet. This can often amount to a substantial volume of water.
Many of these problems have been overcome by the use of tankless water heaters. Heating water accurately and efficiently in a consistent and safe manner can be problematic with current tankless systems
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object the present invention to provide a new and improved tankless water heater.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a modular tankless water heater.
And another object of the present invention is to provide a tankless water heater having multiple safety features.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tankless water heater which can have flow dynamics adjusted by the head manifolds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, to achieve the desired objects of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a tankless water heater module including a casing having a first end, a second end and a plurality of conduits formed therein, extending from the first end to the second end. A top head manifold is coupled to the first end of the casing and includes a port aligned with each of the plurality of conduits. A bottom head manifold is coupled to the second end of the casing and includes a port aligned with each of the plurality of conduits. An immersion heating element extends through each port of the top head manifold and into the conduit aligned therewith. Each immersion heating element is coupled to the top head manifold. An inlet is coupled to one of the plurality of conduits through the port of the bottom head manifold aligned therewith. An outlet is coupled to another one of the plurality of conduits through the port of the bottom head manifold aligned therewith. A flow path extends from the inlet to the outlet through the plurality of conduits, the plurality of conduits coupled in fluid communication by channels between ports of the top head manifold and a channel between ports of the bottom head manifold.
Also provided is a tankless water heater system having a power module coupled to a power source, a water heater module, a relay switch coupled to each immersion heating element and to the power module, and a control unit receiving fluid flow data and fluid temperature data from the water heater module. The control unit is coupled to the relay switches for actuating the relay switches upon selected fluid flow and fluid temperature data.
Also provided is a method of heating water including the steps of providing a tankless water heater module, injecting water into the flow path, sensing a flow rate of water through the flow path, sensing temperature of water entering the flow path and temperature of water exiting the flow path, and supplying power to selected heating elements determined by the flow rate, the temperature of water entering the flow path and the temperature of water exiting the flow path.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed to
Referring to
Power module 22 includes a terminal and breaker switch combination 25 to provide safety and reduce associated elements needed for installation. No separate or outside breaker box is necessary for the installation of system 10. Control circuit 24 receives water flow and water temperature data, controlling water heater module 30 by actuating solid-state relay switches 23. System 10, in the preferred embodiment, also includes mechanical relays 27, which act as safety shut-offs when a predetermined temperature is equaled or exceeded. These relays are not coupled to controller 24 and are thus independent therefrom. Electrical power runs from breakers 25 through mechanical relays 27 to solid state relays 23. When signaled from controller 24, relays 23 provide power to module 30.
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A substantial advantage provided by top head manifold 37 and bottom head manifold 38 is the high degree of control provided over the water flowing through module 30. Specifically, channels 48 and 49 of top head manifold 37 and channel 58 of bottom head manifold 38 can be configured to alter flow characteristics through each conduit 35d, 35b, and 35c, respectively. Flow characteristics include velocity, direction and turbulence generated. These are altered by the volume of each channel (width and depth), and the shape or direction. By increasing the velocity, or directing the flow against another object, for example, turbulence can be created. Turbulence in water flow through a conduit can prevent or reduce surface boiling and stir up any particulate matter, preventing deposits and build-up. The channels permit a high degree of flexibility in module 30 to allow the flow characteristics to be altered as desired.
As can be understood from the description and seen from the drawings, top head manifold 37 and bottom head manifold 38 permit conduits 35 to share much of the thermal energy generated by heating elements 40 instead of radiating the energy to the surrounding environment. Additionally, while a distinct flow path sequentially through conduits 35 having heating elements 40 is provided, top head manifold 37 and bottom head manifold 38 cooperate to form a single container with respect to pressure water heater module 30. Due to this unique characteristic, a pressure relief valve 95 can be employed for increased safety. Pressure relief valve 95 is coupled to side port 47 of top head manifold 37.
As briefly mentioned previously, a flush mechanism 100 can be added to the system if desired as shown in
With reference to
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As briefly touched upon previously, tankless water heater system 10 can be expanded to increase its capacity by include multiple water heater modules 30. Referring to
Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.
Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:
Claims
1. A modular tankless water heater system comprising:
- a power module coupled to a power source;
- a water heater module including a casing having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of conduits formed therein, extending from the first end to the second end, a top head manifold coupled to the first end of the casing and including a port aligned with each of the plurality of conduits, a bottom head manifold coupled to the second end of the casing including a port aligned with each of the plurality of conduits, an immersion heating element extending through each port of the top head manifold and into the conduit aligned therewith, each immersion heating element coupled to the top head manifold, and a flow path from through the plurality of conduits, the plurality of conduits coupled in fluid communication by channels between ports of the top head manifold and between ports of the bottom head manifold
- a relay switch coupled to each immersion heating element and to the power module; and
- a control unit receiving fluid flow data and fluid temperature data from the water heater module, coupled to the relay switches for actuating the relay switches upon selected fluid flow and fluid temperature data.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power module includes a terminal and breaker switch for each heating element.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each relay switch is mounted to the casing.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1 further including an inlet water temperature sensor carried by the water heater module, an outlet water temperature sensor carried by the water heater module, and a flow sensor carried by the water heater module, the inlet water temperature sensor, the outlet water temperature sensor, and the flow sensor each coupled to the control unit.
5. A system as claimed in claim 1 further including a second water heater module coupled in series to the water heater module and to the control unit and power module.
6. A system as claimed in claim 1 further including a flush mechanism coupled to one port of the bottom head manifold.
7. A system as claimed in claim 1 further including a pressure relief valve coupled to the top head manifold.
8. A system as claimed in claim 1 further including a mechanical switches coupled between each relay switch and the power module, and an over temperature sensor coupled to the water heater module and the mechanical switches for interrupting power supplied to each relay switch upon sensing a pre-determined temperature of water.
9. A tankless water heater module comprising:
- a casing having a first end, a second end and a plurality of conduits formed therein, extending from the first end to the second end;
- a top head manifold coupled to the first end of the casing and including a port aligned with each of the plurality of conduits;
- a bottom head manifold coupled to the second end of the casing including a port aligned with each of the plurality of conduits;
- an immersion heating element extending through each port of the top head manifold and into the conduit aligned therewith, each immersion heating element coupled to the top head manifold;
- an inlet coupled to one of the plurality of conduits through the port of the bottom head manifold aligned therewith;
- an outlet coupled to another one of the plurality of conduits through the port of the bottom head manifold aligned therewith; and
- a flow path from the inlet to the outlet through the plurality of conduits, the plurality of conduits coupled in fluid communication by channels between ports of the top head manifold and a channel between ports of the bottom head manifold.
10. A water heater module as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of conduits has two adjacent conduits of the plurality of conduits.
11. A water heater module as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of the immersion heating elements is individually removable from the top head manifold.
12. A water heater module as claimed in claim 9 wherein a pressure relief valve is coupled to the flow path through one of the top head manifold and the bottom head manifold.
13. A water heater module as claimed in claim 9 wherein the casing is generally square in cross section having four quadrants, the plurality of conduits includes four conduits, one formed in each quadrant.
14. A water heater module as claimed in claim 13 wherein the top head manifold includes two channels each coupling two separate ones of the ports.
15. A water heater module as claimed in claim 14 wherein the bottom head manifold includes one channel coupling two separate ones of the ports.
16. A water heater module as claimed in claim 9 further including an inlet water temperature sensor inserted into the port of the bottom head manifold to which the inlet is coupled, and an outlet water temperature sensor inserted into the port of the bottom head manifold to which the outlet is coupled.
17. A water heater module as claimed in claim 16 further including a flow sensor carried by the water supply inlet.
18. A water heater module as claimed in claim 16 further including a flow sensor carried by the bottom head manifold and positioned in the channel.
19. A water heater module as claimed in claim 9 further including a flush mechanism coupled to one of the plurality of conduits though the port of the bottom head manifold aligned therewith other than the one of the plurality of conduits through the port of the bottom head manifold aligned therewith coupled to the inlet and the another one of the plurality of conduits though the port of the bottom head manifold aligned therewith coupled to the outlet.
20. A water heater module as claimed in claim 9 wherein the heating elements each include touch safety leads.
21-27. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 7, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 28, 2006
Inventors: William Sturm (Tempe, AZ), Joseph Sullivan (Gilbert, AZ), Thomas Shortland (Tempe, AZ), Kevin Hay (Fountain Hills, AZ), Gregg Johnson (Peoria, AZ)
Application Number: 11/500,005
International Classification: F24H 1/10 (20060101);