Controllers and methods of control of water heaters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water heaters waste energy due to fixed offset settings, leading to unnecessary heat calls during low or no usage, and adjusting user set points for energy savings compromises user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A controller with a base repository for learned usage and a tracking repository for current usage, using multiple offsets to adjust heat calls based on predicted usage levels (High, Medium, Low, No usage) and user set point temperature, with a processor generating heat calls when the water temperature drops to specific offsets, and a timer for setting time delays between these offsets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a fixed offset is used to generate heat calls, then the control is simple, but energy is wasted during low or no usage conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic offset adjustment where the offset value changes based on detected usage patterns. The controller transitions from a fixed offset to a dynamic offset that adapts to actual water heater usage, reducing energy waste during low-usage periods while maintaining simplicity through pattern-based adaptation rather than complex user programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects usage patterns and adjusts offsets without requiring user intervention. The controller monitors heat call frequency and duration, learns the usage pattern over time, and self-adjusts the offset values, eliminating the need for manual programming while reducing energy waste.
2Loss of energy
If the user set point temperature is changed to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but user comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the offset adjustment from the set point temperature. Instead of changing the user's set point temperature, the system creates multiple offset segments (first offset, second offset, third offset) that are applied dynamically based on usage patterns. This allows energy savings through offset adjustment while keeping the user's comfort-oriented set point temperature unchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different offset qualities locally based on usage conditions. During high-usage periods, a smaller offset is applied; during low-usage periods, a larger offset is applied. This localized adjustment of the offset parameter achieves energy savings without affecting the overall set point temperature that determines user comfort.
3Loss of energy
If multiple offsets are implemented to reduce energy waste, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback loops where the controller monitors heat call frequency and duration, compares actual usage with learned patterns, and adjusts offset values accordingly. This automated feedback mechanism manages the complexity of multiple offsets by using usage-based decision logic rather than requiring complex user programming or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs self-learning of usage patterns and automatically selects appropriate offset values without user intervention. The system monitors its own operation, learns the household's water heating patterns over time, and autonomously adjusts the multiple offsets to achieve energy savings, managing complexity through self-service rather than user complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A water heater that is controlled by a plurality of offsets depending on at least one of predicted current usage of the water heater and preset user set point temperature results in energy saving without affecting user comfort and eliminates the need for additional hardware. The average temperature of the water is lower than in the case where a single preset offset is adjusted, thereby resulting in energy saving.