Abstract: A water heating system is provided. The water heating system includes a tank having a wall, a water inlet defined through the wall and configured to allow ingress of water into the tank, and a water outlet defined through the wall and configured to allow egress of water from the tank. The water heating system also includes a heating element disposed within the tank, having a substantially elongate shape, and being moveable between a first inclination angle with respect to a base of the tank and a second inclination angle with respect to the base of the tank.

Abstract: An electric water heater appliance is provided herein. The electric water heater appliance may include a tank, an electric heating element, and a temperature sensor. The tank may define an interior volume extending from a top portion to a bottom portion. The interior volume may define a volume height along a vertical direction between the bottom portion and the top portion. The electric heating element may be operable to heat water within the interior volume. The temperature sensor may be attached to the tank above the electric heating element. A sensor gap may be defined along the vertical direction between the electric heating element and the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A control module for a water heater includes a switching module that receives a voltage supply and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater. The water heater includes an electrical junction box that receives the voltage supply. A communication module communicates with at least one of an energy meter and an energy network external to the water heater and the control module, and receives information from the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network. The control module is mounted on the water heater and the voltage supply passes through or adjacent to the control module. The control module determines an operating characteristic of the water heater based on the voltage supply and selectively actuates the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater in response to the operating characteristic and the information.

Abstract: A method is provided for interconnecting a single electrical heating element of a hot water heater to first and second AC electrical power sources. Typically, these first and second AC electrical power sources include a utility provided electrical power source and a renewable power source that generates AC power from DC power. The method includes operating a controller that selectively connects and disconnects the first and second power sources. If sufficient electrical power is available from the renewable power source, the utility provided electrical power source may be disconnected to preferentially utilize renewable energy.

Abstract: Methods of managing electrical power storage can include remotely controlling operation of one of at least two water heating units included in a single water heater, separately from one another, at a customer location in response to a determination that an imbalance exists in a distribution of electricity to a power grid coupled to the single water heater.

Abstract: A hot water heater includes a tank for storing water, one or more heating elements for selectively applying heat to the water in the tank, and a controller for controlling the heating elements, operative to automatically self-program control of the hot water heater to reduce energy consumption of the hot water heater based on usage data. The controller is operative to execute a learning algorithm that tracks usage data of the hot water heater based on one or more parameters.

Abstract: A method of managing electrical power storage can include remotely controlling operation of one of a plurality of water heating units included in a single water heater, separately from controlling a remainder of the plurality of the water heating units, at a customer location in response to a remotely transmitted indication.

Abstract: A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control are disclosed. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation.

Abstract: A hot water heater includes a tank for storing water, one or more heating elements for selectively applying heat to the water in the tank, and a controller for controlling the heating elements, operative to automatically self-program control of the hot water heater to reduce energy consumption of the hot water heater based on usage data. The controller is operative to execute a learning algorithm that tracks usage data of the hot water heater based on one or more parameters.

Abstract: A high efficiency, peak-power reducing, domestic hot water heater is described. It comprises a closed tank having a predetermined water holding capacity. A hot water outlet is provided in a top end wall of the tank. A cold water inlet is provided in a side wall of the tank adjacent a bottom wall thereof. Three spaced apart resistive heating elements project substantially horizontally in the tank. A bottom one of the resistive heating elements extends in the tank and spaced slightly above the bottom wall. A middle one of the resistive heating elements extends in the tank at a level close to an average maximum water consumption volume drawn during a peak power demand time period. A top one of the resistive heating elements extends between the middle element and the top end wall of the tank. The bottom element has a low watt density in the range of from about 15 to 30 W/in2.

Abstract: An electrical switch unit (1, 60, 61, 70) is provided for controlling the supply of electrical energy to an appliance (7, 65) that also has its own electrical control switch (38), in particular a water heater. The switch unit has a normally open load switch operatively closed by a electronic timer means, and a bypass detector circuit (25) is connected in parallel across the load switch so as to become energized when the electrical control switch of a connected appliance is closed. The timer means is operative to become activated consequent on the initiation of current flow through the detector circuit to effect closure of said load switch after a predetermined optionally adjustable time delay (that is independent of real-time), and to maintain the load switch in a closed condition for a time period after which the load switch is returned to its normally open condition.

Abstract: A high efficiency, peak-power reducing, domestic hot water heater is described. It comprises a closed tank having a predetermined water holding capacity. A hot water outlet is provided in a top end wall of the tank. A cold water inlet is provided in a side wall of the tank adjacent a bottom wall thereof. Three spaced apart resistive heating elements project substantially horizontally in the tank. A bottom one of the resistive heating elements extends in the tank and spaced slightly above the bottom wall. A middle one of the resistive heating elements extends in the tank at a level close to an average maximum water consumption volume drawn during a peak power demand time period. A top one of the resistive heating elements extends between the middle element and the top end wall of the tank. The bottom element has a low watt density in the range of from about 15 to 30 W/in2.

Abstract: A system for controlling temperature control elements used to alter temperatures of a liquid comprises a temperature sensor, a first temperature control element, a second temperature control element, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to sense temperatures of the liquid, and the first and second temperature control elements are each configured to alter a temperature of the liquid. The logic is configured to selectively control, based on the sensed temperatures, activation states of the first and second temperature control elements such that a total activation time associated with the first temperature control element is substantially equal to a total activation time associated with the second temperature control element.

Abstract: An apparatus for programmably controlling the operation of a water heater having a programmable timer coupled to the water heater for establishing predetermined times of when the water heater should operate. The programmable controller allows for the operation of a solenoid valve which controls the flow of natural gas to a burner. The present invention may utilize a conventional 110/120 volt power source as provided in a power vented gas water heater or an electrical water heater, or the present invention may utilize a thermopile as a mini generator by which to power the programmable timer and solenoid.

Abstract: In a control unit of a hot-water supply system, a boiling time period is estimated based on a hot-water amount stored in a tank at a time of 23:00, a boiling start time is adjusted so that boiling operation is finished at a time immediately before 7:00. For example, when the hot water amount stored in the tank is smaller at the time of 23:00, the boiling time period is made longer and the boiling start time is made earlier. On the other hand, when the hot water amount stored in the tank is larger at the time of 23:00, the boiling time period is made shorter and the boiling start time is made later.

Abstract: A domestic water heater 10 includes a water meter 14 to count the units of water used each day and has a timer 17 to time the heating cycle each day. A programmable means 18 stores the water usage and heating data for a sixty day period and using statistical techniques determines the time period required for heating the water in the tank 10. The means 18 also stores power load curve data from the power generator and matches the required heating time to an appropriate portion of a low in the power load curve. The tanks may be placed in any one of 9 groups and a tank in each group will by virtue of the program in means 18 center the mid point of the calculated heating period on the same time during the off peak period. Tanks fitted with such controllers can be allocated into one of two or more categories to enable a power utility to reallocate the water heater power load into low cost periods of the power load curve.

Abstract: A continuous boiling water unit is disclosed and comprises a water heating tank (1) containing an electric heating element (2) near the bottom of the tank (1) and a level control tank (3) mounted alongside the heating tank (1). An interconnecting steam communication port (21) is located between the level control tank (3) and the heating tank (1), together with a draw-off connection (23) and a flow connection (10). There further comprises an electronic temperature sensor in the form of a thermister (50) operable to sense the temperature of water in the heating tank (1), and upon sensing boiling of the water in the heating tank (1), operable to cause cut-off of the supply to the heating element (2).

Abstract: A hot water system for connection to a water supply and a local hot water usage system, comprising a plurality of series-connected reserve tanks and demand tanks for receiving water from the water supply, heating the received water to a desired temperature within the reserve and demand tanks, and supplying the heated water to the local hot water usage system as it is demanded. A controlling device is provided for sequencing the operation of the reserve and demand tanks relative to peak power consumption hours and off-peak hours. Specifically, each of the tanks is provided with one or more thermostats which are selectively enabled or disabled by the controlling device at predetermined times. The one or more thermostats are, in turn, connected to one or more heating coils or maintenance coils. The reserve tanks and demand tanks may be operated under control of the controlling device in any of three modes, as follows: maintenance mode, enable mode, and disable mode.