Water Heater Tank Temperature Profiling for Hot Water Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water heaters often experience a rapid decrease in average water temperature due to significant water usage, leading to uncomfortably low temperatures being dispensed to users, as the heating elements struggle to maintain the desired temperature range.
Innovation Solution
A system with temperature sensors and a controller that estimates and reports the amount of hot water in the tank, allowing users to make informed decisions about water usage and enabling the heating elements to maintain desired temperatures by activating and deactivating heating elements based on temperature profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating elements are activated to maintain desired temperature range, then water temperature is improved, but response time to significant water usage is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by estimating the amount of hot water in the tank in advance of actual water usage. The controller calculates temperature profiles and hot water quantities before a user requests water, allowing advance warning and preparation. This enables the system to predict temperature issues before they occur, rather than reacting after temperature has already dropped.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by continuously monitoring multiple temperature sensors throughout the tank and dynamically calculating changing temperature profiles as water is used. The estimation adapts in real-time to changing conditions, adjusting the hot water quantity calculation based on current temperature distribution, water usage patterns, and heating element performance.
2Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are used to estimate hot water amount, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the water tank into multiple vertical zones and placing temperature sensors at different heights (first, second, and third temperatures from bottom to top). This segmented measurement approach captures the temperature gradient throughout the tank, enabling more accurate estimation of hot water quantity compared to a single sensor, while keeping the sensor count manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that processes temperature data from multiple sensors and calculates the estimated hot water amount. Rather than requiring complex sensor networks, the intermediary controller performs the computational work of integrating temperature profiles with tank water quantity to derive the hot water estimation, simplifying the overall system architecture.
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 effectively prevents users from being exposed to low temperatures by allowing them to postpone water usage until sufficient hot water is available, ensuring a more comfortable experience and maintaining the desired water temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensor mounted within a close proximity of the upper heating element and a second temperature sensor mounted in close proximity to the lower heating element
Implementation Method 2
the controller activates at least one heating element for warming the water. When activated, a heating element begins to heat the water within the tank
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods for estimating and indicating temperature characteristics of temperature controlled liquids. A system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a tank filled at least partially with a liquid, such as water, and the system has a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on the tank. During operation, a controller compares temperatures sensed by these temperature sensors to a predefined temperature profile for the liquid within the tank in order to estimate the likely temperature characteristics of such liquid. The controller then reports these estimated temperature characteristics via a user interface. As an example, the controller may estimate and report the amount of liquid above a threshold temperature that can be drawn from the tank. Based on the reported temperature characteristics, a user may make decisions about whether or how to use liquid drawn from the tank.