EP1144919B1 - Water heater having multi-parameter control - Google Patents
Water heater having multi-parameter control Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1144919B1 EP1144919B1 EP99936761A EP99936761A EP1144919B1 EP 1144919 B1 EP1144919 B1 EP 1144919B1 EP 99936761 A EP99936761 A EP 99936761A EP 99936761 A EP99936761 A EP 99936761A EP 1144919 B1 EP1144919 B1 EP 1144919B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- water
- heater
- temperature
- level
- water heater
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/0005—Details for water heaters
- F24H9/0042—Cleaning arrangements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D19/00—Details
- F24D19/0092—Devices for preventing or removing corrosion, slime or scale
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Cookers (AREA)
- Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)
- Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
- Control Of Temperature (AREA)
- Instantaneous Water Boilers, Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses, And Control Of Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses (AREA)
- Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
- General Induction Heating (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The "POWER" LED flashes until unit commissioning is complete.
- For water heat, the heater does not activate until the water level has activated the half full float switch and the steam thermistor has reached a minimum temperature. This ensures that the unit cannot heat an empty tank or continue to boil if power is removed during the boil stage. A timer operates to determine the maximum time allowed for the steam and water temperatures to reach their idle states. Failure of the steam thermistor to reach an idle state shall be determined as a non-critical fault condition. The unit waits for the water tank thermistor to begin rising from the idle value (approx 88 Centigrade). A timer shall operate during this period and if allowed to expire shall cause a critical fault condition. The water tank temperature is monitored from the minimum setting until the temperature reaches a point just below boiling. Note, this setting can only be approximate. A rise in temperature shall be expected throughout this period with the unit entering a critical fault condition if this is not achieved. This enables correct water tank thermistor operation to be determined. If the water temperature has reached near boiling point at power on the unit shall proceed to check for the steam condition
- A non-critical fault is defined as a fault which does not affect unit operation from the user's perspective but should be rectified as soon as possible. A non-critical system fault is indicated by briefly flashing the "READY" LED. The indication operates in such a way as not to detract from the descale indication. If the normal state of the LED is extinguished then a fault condition shall cause a regular, brief illumination. The unit shall assume that all faults have been rectified when re-powered and enters the initialisation procedure.
- temperature by means of an electronic sensing device (typically a thermistor) which provides a signal to the circuit to make or break an electrical supply to the heating means at a pre-set temperature.
- Water level by means of a further electronic sensing device or devices which provides a signal to the circuit when the water level within the heater reaches a predetermined level to make or break an electrical supply to a means of controlling the inlet water flow (typically a solenoid valve).
- Scale conditioning of the inlet water supply.
Claims (8)
- A water heater (10) having a vessel (11) for holding water to be heated, a heating element (12), at least one temperature sensor (21,22), one or more level sensors (19, 20) and a control circuit (15), characterised in that the water heater (10) includes means (23) for actively conditioning water to be heated, said means comprising an induction coil or closed loop antenna (23) coiled about a water inlet pipe (13), said means (23) being operable via the control circuit (15) to prevent or reduce the precipitation of limescale from the water, by inducing a conditioning signal in the water, so as to reduce limescale build-up within the heater (10), thereby increasing its efficiency and prolonging its useful life.
- A water heater according to claim 1, wherein the conditioning signal comprises electromagnetic energy the frequency and intensity of which is variable.
- A water heater according to claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic energy alters the characteristics of "hard water" to reduce scale precipitation from the water and accumulation of that scale on hot surfaces within the heater.
- A water heater according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the conditioning signal is intensified for greater volumes of water drawn through the inlet pipe (13).
- A water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the conditioning signal generated cyclically sweeps through a range of frequencies.
- A water heater according to claim 5, wherein the frequency sweep is non-continuous in that pre-selected frequencies are applied to the water for longer periods than other frequencies.
- A water heater according to any preceding claim, wherein the control circuit (15) is housed within the water heater and includes means for correlating level and temperature signals so as to maintain substantially a pre-selected volume of water at a predetermined temperature, release of water from the heater being restricted until a predetermined temperature is achieved.
- A water heater according to claim 1, wherein the water heater (10) has a vessel (11) for holding water to be heated, a heating element (12), a first temperature sensor (21) located adjacent the heating element (12), a second temperature sensor (22) at or towards the top of the vessel (11) to detect steam, a "half-full" level sensor (20), a "full" level sensor (19) and a control circuit (15) wherein the water heater (10) includes a coil or antenna (23) connected to the control circuit (15) which induces through the loop or antenna (23) a conditioning signal in water drawn through an inlet pipe (13), the conditioning signal preventing or reducing the precipitation of limescale from the water, the control circuit (15) being governed by a microprocessor which reads sensor signals from the level and temperature sensors to control water temperature and level within the heater, the conditioning means being enabled when fresh water is introduced into the heater.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9816366 | 1998-07-28 | ||
GBGB9816366.0A GB9816366D0 (en) | 1998-07-28 | 1998-07-28 | Improvements in combined temperature level and limescale reduction control devices for water heaters |
GBGB9825441.0A GB9825441D0 (en) | 1998-11-21 | 1998-11-21 | Improvements in combined temperature level and limescale reduction control devies for water heaters |
GB9825441 | 1998-11-21 | ||
PCT/GB1999/002253 WO2000006956A2 (en) | 1998-07-28 | 1999-07-28 | Water heater having multi-parameter control |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1144919A2 EP1144919A2 (en) | 2001-10-17 |
EP1144919A3 EP1144919A3 (en) | 2004-04-28 |
EP1144919B1 true EP1144919B1 (en) | 2004-05-19 |
Family
ID=26314128
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP99936761A Expired - Lifetime EP1144919B1 (en) | 1998-07-28 | 1999-07-28 | Water heater having multi-parameter control |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1144919B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE267368T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU747152B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69917488D1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2340213A (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ510100A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000006956A2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2023118858A1 (en) * | 2021-12-22 | 2023-06-29 | Jemella Limited | Thermal control apparatus and method |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL2006802C2 (en) * | 2011-05-18 | 2012-11-20 | Stichting Wetsus Ct Excellence Sustainable Water Technology | A combined sensor-actuator system and method for detecting and / or combating attack on a surface. |
EP3892934A1 (en) | 2020-04-09 | 2021-10-13 | Eccotemp Systems, LLC | Improved water heater device and method of use |
US11448424B2 (en) | 2020-04-09 | 2022-09-20 | Eccotemp Systems, LLC | Tankless water heater with display and electronic control |
US11852381B2 (en) | 2020-04-09 | 2023-12-26 | Eccotemp Systems, LLC | Water heater device and method of use |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4406794A (en) * | 1979-02-05 | 1983-09-27 | Brigante Miguel F | External sludge collector for boiler bottom blowdown and automatic blowdown control initiated by conductivity probe within the boiler and method |
HUT57678A (en) * | 1987-12-27 | 1991-12-30 | Zoltan Gyoergy Horvath | Process and equipment for increasing the efficiency of magnetic liquid treating devices, particularly water treating devices |
DE3912498A1 (en) * | 1989-04-15 | 1990-10-18 | Andreas Uebele | Combined gravitational and magnetic fields - increase beneficial effect of water flowing in conical helical pipe round magnetic core |
EP0460248B1 (en) * | 1990-06-05 | 1994-02-09 | Hartmut Dipl.-Ing. Schulte | Process and apparatus for treating water with a electro-magnetic field |
CH682149A5 (en) * | 1990-11-26 | 1993-07-30 | Aquasal Kalkschutzanlagen Ag | |
GB9117152D0 (en) * | 1991-08-07 | 1991-09-25 | Heatrae Sadia Heating Ltd | Heater for liquid |
DE4314969A1 (en) * | 1993-05-06 | 1993-12-09 | Schober Elektronik Gmbh | Water softening in water-processing electrical appts. - by removing lime using strong magnetic field produced by permanent or electromagnets |
IT234849Y1 (en) * | 1994-09-26 | 2000-03-20 | Etairoi Holding Sa | STEAM GENERATOR FOR DOMESTIC USE, IN PARTICULAR FOR CLEANING WORKS |
-
1999
- 1999-07-28 EP EP99936761A patent/EP1144919B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-07-28 AU AU51745/99A patent/AU747152B2/en not_active Expired
- 1999-07-28 AT AT99936761T patent/ATE267368T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1999-07-28 WO PCT/GB1999/002253 patent/WO2000006956A2/en active IP Right Grant
- 1999-07-28 NZ NZ510100A patent/NZ510100A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1999-07-28 GB GB9917651A patent/GB2340213A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1999-07-28 DE DE69917488T patent/DE69917488D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2023118858A1 (en) * | 2021-12-22 | 2023-06-29 | Jemella Limited | Thermal control apparatus and method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2000006956A2 (en) | 2000-02-10 |
AU747152B2 (en) | 2002-05-09 |
EP1144919A3 (en) | 2004-04-28 |
ATE267368T1 (en) | 2004-06-15 |
GB2340213A (en) | 2000-02-16 |
NZ510100A (en) | 2003-04-29 |
DE69917488D1 (en) | 2004-06-24 |
AU5174599A (en) | 2000-02-21 |
EP1144919A2 (en) | 2001-10-17 |
GB9917651D0 (en) | 1999-09-29 |
WO2000006956A3 (en) | 2001-10-04 |
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