Remote Water Heater Failure Detection via Power Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical power grid management and demand response systems face inefficiencies due to the need for excess power generation during peak demand periods and high costs associated with shifting power between grid regions, while also lacking effective methods for remotely detecting failures in electric water heaters, such as heating element damage or leaks, which can reduce their participation in demand response programs.
Innovation Solution
A demand response system that includes electronic controllers in electric water heaters to monitor temperature and power consumption, communicating with an aggregator to detect failures and leaks, and generate dispatch signals to manage power draw, thereby enabling remote detection and notification of issues and optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If excess power generating capacity is provided for peak demand periods, then power supply reliability is improved, but power generation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts water heater operation based on real-time grid conditions and demand response signals. Water heaters can switch between heating modes or shut down temporarily during peak demand periods, allowing the system to adapt to varying power availability and pricing conditions without compromising overall reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-heats water during off-peak hours when power is cheaper and more abundant, storing thermal energy in the water tank. This preliminary action reduces the need for power generation during peak periods, lowering generation costs while maintaining power supply reliability through stored thermal capacity
2Reliability
If power is shifted between geographical grid regions, then power demand is matched, but transmission losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables water heaters to autonomously respond to demand response signals and adjust their power consumption based on local grid conditions. This self-service capability eliminates the need for long-distance power transmission, allowing each region to balance its own demand locally and reducing transmission losses
3Productivity
If demand response loads are aggregated and controlled remotely, then power generation efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a standardized communication protocol and control interface that can be applied to multiple water heaters across different locations. This universal approach allows aggregation of diverse loads while maintaining manageable system complexity through consistent communication standards and centralized management
4Adaptability or versatility
If third parties are compensated for participating in demand response, then load participation is improved, but aggregator profit decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where water heaters report their operational status and power consumption to the aggregator. This enables the aggregator to verify actual demand response participation and compensation eligibility, ensuring accurate compensation while maintaining profit through efficient verification and reduced administrative overhead
Data Source
AI summary
An aggregator is in operative communication with an aggregation of electric water heaters to receive thermostat readings and power consumption readings from the electric water heaters and to communicate demand response dispatch signals to the electric water heaters. The aggregator performs operations including: responding to instructions for a desired demand response by generating the demand response dispatch signals for the electric water heaters so as to cause the aggregation to draw electrical power providing the desired demand response; and determining whether an electric water heater of the aggregation has a failure and generating a notification of the failure. The determining including at least one of: determining whether the electric water heater has a failed heating element based on the thermostat readings received from the electric water heater; and determining whether the electric water heater has a water leak based on the power consumption readings received from the electric water heater.