Tankless Water Heater Power Control for Circuit Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tankless water heaters face challenges in fine control of heated water flow levels, particularly in electric models, which lead to high power burdens on local circuits and regional power grids, and may run out of hot water during peak demand.
Innovation Solution
A tankless water heater system with horizontally laid out tubes containing heating elements, temperature and flow sensors, and a control system that monitors and adjusts power to maintain desired temperatures, incorporating safety relays and power management to balance load and communicate with other smart devices for efficient energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high power heating elements are used in electric tankless water heaters, then heating capacity is improved, but power burden on local circuits and regional power grids worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating function into multiple independent heating elements that can be controlled separately. This allows the system to distribute the power burden across multiple elements rather than requiring one high-power element, thereby reducing peak power demands on circuits and grids while maintaining adequate heating capacity through coordinated operation of multiple elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic cycling of heating elements where elements are turned on and off in sequences rather than operating continuously at full power. This periodic action reduces the steady-state power burden on electrical circuits and grids while still achieving the required heating capacity through cumulative thermal output over time.
2Speed
If tankless water heater operates at high power, then heating speed is improved, but risk of circuit overload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating load across multiple heating elements with individual controls. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high heating speed through coordinated operation of multiple elements while distributing the electrical load to prevent any single circuit from being overloaded, thereby maintaining both heating performance and electrical system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of heating element operation where elements are activated and deactivated based on real-time conditions including water flow rate, temperature differential, and electrical load capacity. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal heating speed while adapting power consumption to prevent circuit overload under varying operating conditions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If multiple heating elements are used to reduce power burden, then power management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements control systems where heating elements autonomously regulate their own operation based on local sensor feedback regarding water temperature and flow conditions. This self-service capability reduces the complexity of centralized power management by allowing each heating element to independently optimize its contribution to the overall heating task, thereby managing multiple elements without proportionally increasing control system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides efficient and controlled heating, reducing energy consumption, preventing circuit overload, and ensuring a consistent hot water supply by dynamically managing power distribution and communication with other smart devices.
Implementation Method 1
at least one with a heating element inside... water is heated as it flows in series through each of the tubes
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates primarily to an electric heater based tankless water heater, though some aspects may also apply to a natural gas or other fuel based tankless water heater. In particular aspects relating to “smart” communication and coordination of the tankless water heater with other devices, which may be electrically powered or powered by other fuels, may also apply to non-electric flow through fluid heating systems. The subject tankless water heater invention incorporates several aspects relating to energy and construction efficiency which will be detailed further. These include both physical aspects, such as coatings, tubing and heater element design, and electrical aspects, such as power control for individual heater elements, which can make the tankless water heater more compact and more efficient in operation, with reduced instantaneous and long term load on electrical supply systems.