NZ616881B2 - A water heater controller or system - Google Patents
A water heater controller or system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ616881B2 NZ616881B2 NZ616881A NZ61688112A NZ616881B2 NZ 616881 B2 NZ616881 B2 NZ 616881B2 NZ 616881 A NZ616881 A NZ 616881A NZ 61688112 A NZ61688112 A NZ 61688112A NZ 616881 B2 NZ616881 B2 NZ 616881B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- tank
- temperature
- water
- energy
- sensor
- Prior art date
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 138
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract 4
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 19
- 238000009529 body temperature measurement Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000003466 anti-cipated Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000012206 bottled water Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001768 cations Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008236 heating water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003303 reheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000000352 storage cell Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
- F24D11/00—Central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses
- F24D11/002—Central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses water heating system
- F24D11/003—Central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses water heating system combined with solar energy
-
- 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
- F24D11/00—Central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses
- F24D11/002—Central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses water heating system
- F24D11/004—Central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses water heating system with conventional supplementary heat source
-
- 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
- F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
- F24D19/1009—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for central heating
-
- 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
- F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
- F24D19/1009—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for central heating
- F24D19/1048—Counting of energy consumption
-
- 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
- F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
- F24D19/1051—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for domestic hot water
- F24D19/1063—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for domestic hot water counting of energy consumption
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
- Y02B10/20—Solar thermal
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
- Y02B10/70—Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
Abstract
Disclosed is a method of measuring the amount of energy consumed from a water heater having a tank (1.002) with two or more temperature sensors (1.008) located a predetermined heights on or in the tank (1.002). The method includes the step of: (a) for each sensor (1.008), determining a corresponding volume of a segment of the tank (1.002); (b) measuring the change of temperature at each temperature sensor (1.002), (c)calculating the energy for the corresponding volume for each sensor (1.002), and (4) summing the energy changes for all the sensors (1.002) to determine the amount of energy consumed. The energy usage is recorded with chronological information to construct a usage pattern which can be used for controlling the heater and for providing the user with details of energy usage. volume of a segment of the tank (1.002); (b) measuring the change of temperature at each temperature sensor (1.002), (c)calculating the energy for the corresponding volume for each sensor (1.002), and (4) summing the energy changes for all the sensors (1.002) to determine the amount of energy consumed. The energy usage is recorded with chronological information to construct a usage pattern which can be used for controlling the heater and for providing the user with details of energy usage.
Description
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A Water Heater Controller or System
Field of the invention
This invention relates to water heaters, and particularly to the measurement
of energy usage or consumption in water heaters.
The invention can be used to measure the energy consumption of storage
water heaters lly. The invention can be used in conjunction with electric water
heaters, gas water heaters, boosted solar water heaters, and boosted heat pump
systems. The invention will be described in relation to dual fuel or boosted water
heating systems, but can also be used with single energy source systems to monitor
and/or control energy consumption. For example, the system can be used to
advantage in an ically boosted solar water heating system having a storage
tank supplied by a water supply, and delivering heated water to users. A solar
collector can have one or more panels of risers and s to absorb solar energy
for delivery to the tank. The solar heat energy can be used directly to heat water in
the tank, or the solar energy can be used to heat a heat transfer fluid which delivers
the heat energy to the water in the tank via a heat exchanger.
The invention can also be used in conjunction with water g system
llers to measure energy consumption on a time-of-day basis, and this can be
used, eg, for heated water demand prediction.
Background of the invention
Boosted solar water heaters can include a booster heater powered by
electricity. A major age of solar water heaters is that they substantially reduce
the requirement for mains electricity. It is ble to reduce or minimize use of the
booster heater. When heated water is drawn from the tank, an equal volume of
unheated water is delivered to the tank from the water . If a large demand for
hot water occurs when no solar input is available, or if the demand exceeds the rate
of reheating ble from the solar collector panels, the booster heater is used to
replenish the heated water.
AU2005299246 describes a system and method for measuring the
volume of hot water consumed by measuring the flow of water through the heater
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using a flow meter. To implement this, temperature sensors are fitted to the inlet and
outlet of the tank, and a flow meter is required.
A flow meter is an added cost in the manufacture of a water heater.
Flow meters have moving parts and require additional installation. Thus, this
invention proposes a system for measuring the energy consumption which does not
require the use of a flow meter to determine the volume of heated water consumed.
Summary of the invention
The invention es a system and method for determining the
amount of heat energy in a tank by measuring the temperature of the water in the
tank without the use of data derived from a flow meter. The invention also provides a
controller adapted to control water heater.
In one embodiment, the average temperature of the water in the tank
can be ined from two or more temperature sensors, and the heat energy
ated from the known volume of the tank and the specific heat of water.
The temperature can be measured at more than one height because
the temperature of the water can be gradated or stratified.
The energy can be calculated from the measured temperatures.
The change in energy can be determined from measurements at
different times.
The change in energy can be recorded with the time of the change to
provide a water usage history.
ing to an embodiment of the ion, there is provided a
method of calculating an estimate of the amount of heat energy change in a water
heater system tank, the method including measuring the temperature of segments of
the tank, each segment having a known , comparing temperature
measurements over time, and calculating the amount of l energy change for
each segment, and summing the energy changes for all segments.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a
method of measuring the amount of energy consumed from a water heater having a
tank with two or more temperature sensors located a predetermined heights on or in
the tank, the method including the step of; for each sensor, determining a
corresponding volume of a t of the tank, ing the change of
temperature at each temperature sensor, calculating the energy for the
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corresponding volume for each sensor, and g the energy changes for all the
s to determine the amount of energy consumed.
A further embodiment of the invention includes a controller
programmed to operate a water heater according to the methods of the invention.
Sensor readings can be continually monitored.
Sensor readings can be recorded in response to a start event and in
response to an end event.
A first temperature measurement from each sensor can be recorded
when a change of temperature is detected.
The sensor reading can be recorded when a rate of change of
temperature exceeds a predetermined first temperature change rate.
A second temperature measurement can be recorded when the rate of
change of temperature is less than a second predetermined temperature change
rate.
The temperature measurement can be taken when the temperature of
the water in the tank has substantially ized.
The change in sensor readings can result from heated water being
drawn from the tank.
The change in sensor readings can result from thermal losses from
the tank.
The change in ature can result from heat energy input to the
tank.
ing to another embodiment of the invention there is provided a
water heating system including a heated water storage tank having two or more
temperature sensors d at predetermined heights on or in the tank, the location
of each sensor being adjacent to or within an associated volume of water in the tank,
such that the sensor provides a practical measurement of the temperature of the
water in the associated volume, the system including a sor responsive to the
readings from the sensors and their associated volumes to calculate an amount of
energy resulting from changes in the sensor readings.
The system can include a store associated with the processor,
whereby the processor can store energy consumption information.
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The processor can store chronological information associated with
energy ption information.
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hot
water system ing:
a water storage tank;
a means of heating water in or delivered to the tank;
two or more temperature sensors measuring water temperature at predetermined
locations within the tank;
an electronic controller in communication with the temperature sensors and
configured to measure thermal energy stored in the tank and to calculate the amount
of thermal energy transferred into and out of the tank.
The temperature sensors can be an array of sensors, each sensor
corresponding to ermined s of water within segments of the tank.
The temperature sensors can be mounted on the surfaces of the tank.
The temperature sensors can be mounted in the tank.
The ller can store information derived from the sensor
measurements so as to retain a record and subsequently use this record, in
conjunction with current, ie, contemporaneous, measurements and other information
about the system to initiate a water heating cycle to meet a predicted future use.
ation specific to the water heater can be mmed into the
ller.
The information specific to the water heater can include the volume of
the tank, the mass of water, the power of the heater element or heat output of a
burner or heat pump, tank heat loss rate, and other information relevant to the
operation and performance of the system.
The controller can output these measurements for use by an
information display device.
The invention also provides a flow-meter-less system and or method
and or controller as described above.
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Brief description of the drawings
An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with nce to the accompanying gs, in
which:
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the relevant elements of a solar
split water heating system according to an embodiment of the invention;;
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the relevant elements of a roof
mounted solar water heating system ing to an embodiment of the invention;;
Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section of a tank of a roof mounted
water heating system according to an ment of the invention;
Figure 4 shows a temperature chart against which the temperature
sensors of the tank of Figure 3 can be plotted.
Figure 5 shows a gas boosted solar water heater according to an
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6 shows an rative daily usage pattern.
Figure 7 shows an exemplary flow diagram illustrating the main steps
of a method of recording data when water is drawn from the tank ing to an
embodiment of the invention.
The numbering convention used in the drawings is that the digits in
front of the full stop indicate the drawing number, and the digits after the full stop are
the element reference numbers. Where possible, the same element reference
number is used in different drawings to indicate corresponding elements.
The ation of the drawings may be chosen to illustrate features of
the embodiment of the invention, and should not be ered as a limitation on the
orientation of the invention in use.
It is understood that, unless indicated otherwise, the drawings are
intended to be illustrative rather than exact representations, and are not necessarily
drawn to scale. The orientation of the drawings is chosen to illustrate the features of
the objects shown, and does not necessarily represent the orientation of the objects
in use.
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Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
The invention, at its most basic, utilizes the average temperatures
before and after a change in tank energy (ie, input or outtake) and the known volume
of the tank to calculate the change in energy in the water in the tank. An ment
of the invention provides a tank with a number of temperature sensors at different
heights and the notional allocation of an adjacent segment of the tank volume to
each temperature sensor. From this either the average temperature of the water can
be calculated so the energy in the whole tank can be calculated directly using the
average temperature, or the energy of the water in each segment can be calculated
so the total energy in the water can be calculated.
A system embodying the invention measures the temperature of the
water in the tank and then calculates the heat energy of the water in the tank.
The system can also determine the difference in heat energy in the
tank at different times or following identifiable events, such as the start and end of
heated water being used.
A number of temperature sensors can be located to measure the
temperature of the water at ent heights in the tank.
A log of the temperatures from each sensor ed t time can
be ined so thermal events such as use of hot water or activation of a heater
can be identified. The energy differential for these events can also be calculated.
The system can differentiate between l leakage and energy
withdrawn from the tank by the use of hot water, and can also distinguish the input of
heat energy into the tank.
Figure 1 shows a split solar water heating system having a roof
d solar collector 1.016, and a storage tank 1.002, usually mounted within a
ng. The tank can have a water supply inlet 1.006 and a heated water delivery
outlet 1.004.
The solar heating system can be a direct system in which the potable
water in the storage tank is directly heated in the solar collector, or it may be an
indirect system in which an intermediate heat transfer fluid is heated in the collector
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and wherein the heat energy is erred to the potable water in the tank via a heat
exchanger. The system illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is a direct system.
The collector may have riser pipes 1.017 with an upper heated water
header 1.020 from which heated water is delivered to an intermediate or upper
portion of tank 1.022, and a lower intake header 1.018 which receives water from the
lower portion of tank 1.002. The heated water header 1.020 is higher than the intake
header 1.018 so the heated water will rise to the upper header 1.020. A pump 1.028
pumps the water through the collector and tank.
A one way valve or a temperature controlled valve 1.032 can be
provided to prevent reverse syphoning when the water in the collector header
is cooler than the water in the tank.
A processor, such as controller 1.002, is provided to calculate energy
consumption.
The invention uses a number of temperature sensors at
predetermined locations on or in the tank to measure the temperature of the water in
the tank at the predetermined locations. A plurality of temperature sensors can be
provided on a flexible PCB strip, as bed in our published PCT patent
application number WO2006053386, which is incorporated herein by reference. The
-sensor strip is mounted against the external wall of the tank, between the
tank wall and the tank insulation so it es the temperature of the adjacent tank
wall which is heated by the water in the tank. The volume of water in the tank is
always full as it is constantly replenished from the water supply.
The temperature sensors can be evenly spaced along the height of
the tank, so that each sensor provides an approximate average temperature reading
for an equal volume of water, ignoring end s of the tank. That is, each sensor
can provide an average temperature reading for an cylindrical segment of the water
in the tank, having a height which is intermediate the sensor and the upper and lower
adjacent sensors. Thus, the thermal energy content of each segment of the tank can
be calculated.
In case the s are not located such that each sensor reports the
temperature of an equal volume, then, ed the adjacent volume of each sensor
intermediate its adjacent sensors is known, the calculation can take the differing
volumes into account.
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Furthermore, where there has been a change in temperature of at
least some segments of the tank, the amount of energy drawn off can be calculated
from the difference in the temperature readings of each segment’s sensor before and
after the water was drawn off. Mathematically, this can be expressed as :
Q = Mn.Cp.ΔT Equation 1
where Q = energy in MJ, Mn. = mass of water in segment “n” in kg, Cp = specific heat
in kJ/kg K, and ΔTn = temperature change °C for segment “n”.
The total energy drawn off is:
QΣ = Σ N n=1 (Mn.Cp.ΔTn) Equation 2
where N is the number of segments.
That is, the total energy in the water drawn off can be ined by
summing the energy changes for each segment based on the volume of each
segment and the corresponding temperature change of the t.
For a boosted solar water heater system, an electrical heating element
1.010 is provided in the tank. The booster heater can be connected to an electrical
supply 1.012 via switch 1.014. The switch can be controlled by ller 1.022.
Depending on the required performance of the booster heater, the
element can be placed at a height in the tank to provide the required mance.
For example, for faster ing, the element can be placed nearer the top of the
tank to rapidly heat the volume of water above the heating element.
In order to minimize the energy requirement of the booster heater, the
ller can utilize the consumption information derived from the temperature
changes detected by the sensor strip 1.008.
Thus the controller 1.022 can determine the both the energy content
of the water in the tank and energy usage.
The controller 1.022 can also be adapted to maintain a chronological
time-of-day ption record and can record usage against the time, day of the
week and date. This information can be used to determine usage ns. For
example, the controller can store the usage history by day and date and establish
usage patterns for different days of the week, as well as for different times of year.
The thermal output of the booster heater 1.010 can be recorded in the
controller to enable the controller to ate the time required to bring the water to a
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required temperature. This can be used to ine the time required to boost the
temperature of the water in order to meet the expected demand for hot water.
Figure 2 schematically illustrates a ounted solar water heating
system. The tank 2.002 is mounted higher than the upper heated 2.020 as this
permits the use of thermosyphoning to circulate the water or heat transfer fluid from
the solar collector.
An ic booster heater 2.010 is controlled by controller 2.022 via
switch 2.014. The switch can be mounted with the tank. The controller 2.022 can be
a roof mounted device mounted with the ounted water heating system.
Optionally it can be powered by a solar photovoltaic power supply 2.027 which can
incorporate an electric storage cell. Alternatively, the controller can be connected to
the mains electricity supply 2.012 on the mains side of switch 2.014 (dashed outline),
so it remains d when the switch is in the open circuit state.
The controller 2.022 can include a wireless communication link with
antenna 2.023 to enable communication with a second controller 2.021. The roof
mounted controller can also send its readings from the sensors to the second
controller 2.021.
A thermo-sensor strip 2.008 can be used to measure the temperature
within the tank. The sensors can be located at evenly spaced intervals. r, in
this embodiment, the sensors are spaced to measure the temperature of equal
volumes of water, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3 schematically illustrates a cross-section of a horizontally
ed tank 3.002 with a plurality of temperature sensors 3.008.1 to 3.008.9 located
at various positions on the tank wall. Each sensor is nt a corresponding
imaginary horizontal zone of the tank. Thus, for example, sensor 3.008.1 is adjacent
zone 1, and sensor 3.008.9 is adjacent zone 9. The zones are selected so that each
corresponding sensor is measures the temperature of an equal volume of water. That
is, the cross-sectional area of each section is the same, assuming a cylindrical tank.
However, as the tank can have curved ends, the cross-section of the zones can be
adjusted to allow for this ence.
The borders between the zones can be defined, for example, as the
horizontal plane through the circumferential mid-point between adjacent s. The
zone with the smallest height is the zone enclosing or ng the centre of the tank
cross-section, as this has the greatest width. The heights of the zones increase
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moving upward or downward from the centre zone to compensate for the decreasing
width of the zones.
While nine sensors and zones are shown, more or fewer sensors and
zones can be used in other embodiments of the invention.
While the embodiment of Figures 2 & 3 describes the sensors as
being allocated to equal sized zones. This is not essential to the ion. ed
the volume allocated to each sensor is known, the energy ation can still be
carried out.
Figure 4 illustrates a solar water heater system with gas boost. The
system is similar to that of Figure 1, with the electric booster 1.010 replaced by a gas
heater 4.034. The thermal output of the gas heater can be recorded in the controller
to enable the controller to calculate the time required to bring the water to a required
temperature.
The system can use all the sensors to determine the total energy of
the water in the tank. Each sensor monitors the temperature of its allotted volume
segment. The ller can then calculate the energy in each segment and then
calculate the total energy in the tank be adding the es of the individual
segments. The sum of the heat energies can be used to maintain a minimum heat
energy when there is no pated usage load. This can be done by switching the
heater on or off as indicated by the sensor readings. The minimum level can be
preset by the user inputting the required temperature into the ller. The
controller can be programmed to use the usage history to anticipate upcoming
demand for hot water, and raise the temperature in advance of the expected time of
the upcoming usage. The user can also be enabled to modify the operating timetable
when changes in the historical usage pattern are planned.
Of course the person skilled in this field will readily understand that the
temperature sensor readings can be used in alternative s to calculate the
energy of the water in the tank. For example, total energy can also be calculated
from the sensor readings by determining the average temperature of the water in the
tank, and then calculating the energy of the whole volume of water in the tank.
Where the sensors monitor equal volumes, the e temperature
can be calculated by summing the temperatures of each sensor and dividing by the
number of sensors.
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Where the volumes monitored by each sensor are not all equal, the
product of the temperature and volume for each sensor can be summed and divided
by the tank volume to provide the average temperature. However, this method
involves redundant calculation because the temperature/volume calculation for each
segment is effectively the calculation of the segment energy, and is not the preferred
method.
The heat energy values are derived from the sensors. The ller
is programmed to implement an algorithm to initiate boost to maintain the preset
energy level and raise the temperature in anticipation of a usage of hot water.
Total heat energy in the tank is governed by the stat setting.
Using equations 1 & 2, the amount of energy ed can be
calculated and recorded against the time-of-day, day-of-week, date so a usage
history can be recorded as shown by way of rative example in Figure 6.
The usage pattern of Figure 6 illustrates a daily demand with three
peaks. The data for such a demand plot can be used to fy typical s of low
and high usage, as well as ediate usage. The controller can use the usage
patterns to predict the upcoming loads and can thus operate the heater system to
meet the upcoming demand while minimizing energy input, by, for example,
maintaining the temperature of the water in the tank at a first temperature when the
load is ted to be nil, maintaining a first portion of the water in the tank within the
required operating temperature range, maintaining a second and larger portion of the
tank contents within the operating temperature range when moderate, and
maintaining the temperature of the water in the tank within the operating range when
heavy demand is predicted. Thus, knowing the present state of the water in the tank,
and knowing the energy input capability of the r, the controller can calculate
how long it will take to bring the water to the requires temperature, and start heating
the water to the required temperature before the demand occurs based on the time to
bring the water to the operating temperature and the expected demand start time.
For example, a domestic water heating system where all occupants
are absent from the house during the day may have a peak in the morning and a
second peak in the evening, but may have little or no demand between these times.
In contrast, a commercial water heating system may have a demand
pattern with peaks during the day.
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A further example would be the replacement of heat loss from the
tank, for example, overnight, at a time ying an anticipated usage pattern.
Figure 7 shows an exemplary flow chart illustrating a possible method
of generating a usage pattern ation according to an embodiment of the
invention.
Because heat can leak from the system even when there is no use of
hot water, it may be desirable to distinguish between temperature changes due to
system losses and demand for hot water. When hot water is drawn from the upper
portion of the tank, cold water is delivered to the lower portion of the tank, and the
unheated water level will rise up within the tank, so the s, from the lowest
sensor up, will progressively register a rapid ature change while hot water is
drawn from the tank. Accordingly, the system can be mmed to monitor the
temperature at each sensor at 7.072 and to compare the rate of change of
temperature with a first predetermined rate of change of temperature ΔT1/dt at 7.074
to distinguish between the natural losses and actual usage. ΔT1 can be equal to or
greater then the system loss rate. Where the loss rate. If no use is detected, the
processor continues to monitor the sensors.
When the rate of change of temperature indicates that water is being
drawn off, the processor ers the time at which this usage commenced at 7.076,
and records the temperatures from each sensor at 7.078. The temperatures from the
sensors are then used to calculate the current energy in each sensor’s segment at
7.080, and the segment energies are summed at 7.082 to provide the total heat
energy at the start of the use of water. The l heat energy in the tank is recorded
at 7.084. The processor then checks whether the usage has stopped at 7.086. This
can be done using the step 7.088 to determine if the change of temperature is less
than a second predetermined temperature change rate ΔT2/dt, and since the test at
7.088 is carried out after the first pass through 7.086, the processor will first record
the chronological data (7.076) and temperature data (7.078, 7.080, 7.082), and
e usage patterns from this information at 7.084 before the process is reset at
7.086. If the usage has not stopped, the processor will continue ng at 7.088
until use stops.
A similar method can be used to measure input . The
temperature/time change will be in the opposite sense. When the flow from the solar
collector is shut off, the input energy will be attributable to the booster heater.
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The use of spaced temperature sensors also enables other energy
saving modes of operation, such as partial heating of the water in the tank, in which
the upper sensors can be used to select a portion of the tank in which the water is to
be maintained within an operating ature range, as disclosed in our copending
Australian patent application AU2005294105. Figure 5 is a temperature chart
showing a possible alternative mode of operating a water heater using the
temperature sensors and controller of the present invention. In particular, the
operating mode could be used to heat only an upper portion of the tank to operating
temperature. This mode could be derived from the historical data records or it could
be programmed by the user, for example when the number of users of the hot water
system changes. In the figure, only the first and last of the ature s
.008.1 to 5.008.9 are ted along the sa to avoid clutter in the drawing.
This chart shows r trigger points for turning the booster on or off. This is used
in conjunction with the usage pattern to minimize the energy consumption.
The line 5.052 represents the temperature of the water in the tank
derived from the temperature sensors.
The controller can be programmed to maintain a minimum
predetermined heat energy value by ing and removing power to the heater
when there is no anticipated usage of hot water. The user can adjust this m
value. As the time of an expected usage approaches, the temperature and stored
energy are raised in anticipation of the expected load.
The dash-dot-dot lines 5.044, 5.046 show the desired output
temperature range. Thus, when the heater is in use, at least the top segment (ZONE
1 in Figure 3) should be maintained within this range as the heated water outlet (eg,
2.004 Figure 2) is drawn from this zone.
The curve 5.052 represents an example of the sensor readings at a
particular stage of usage.
The curve 5.040 indicates a minimum temperature to be maintained
against each sensor. If the temperature of a sensor falls below this line, the booster
heater can be turned on unless the usage pattern indicates that there is negligible
demand at the time, or when the heating system has been switched to a stand-by
mode by the user, for example when the building is to be vacant for some time.
Thus, the historical data of the total energy of the tank, derived from
the temperature sensors can be used to ine when to initiate heating in
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anticipation of expected usage, while the temperature sensors can be used in real
time to select a portion of the tank to be heated if it is not desired to heat the whole
tank.
In this specification, reference to a document, sure, or other
publication or use is not an admission that the document, disclosure, publication or
use forms part of the common general dge of the skilled worker in the field of
this invention at the priority date of this specification, unless otherwise stated.
In this specification, terms indicating orientation or direction, such as
“up”, “down”, cal”, “horizontal”, “left”, “right” “upright”, “transverse” etc. are not
intended to be absolute terms unless the context requires or tes otherwise.
These terms will normally refer to orientations shown in the drawings.
Where ever it is used, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its
“open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limited to its “closed”
sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of”. A corresponding meaning is to be
attributed to the corresponding words “comprise”, “comprised” and “comprises”
where they appear.
It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein
extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features
mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations tute
various alternative aspects of the invention.
While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it
will be t to those d in the art that the present invention may be embodied
in other specific forms without ing from the essential characteristics thereof.
The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all cations which would be
obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
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Claims (10)
1. In a ller for controlling a water heater having a tank with two or more ature sensors located at predetermined heights on or in the tank, a method of ing the amount of energy consumed from the water heater, the method including the step of; for each sensor, determining a corresponding volume of a segment of the tank, measuring the change of temperature at each temperature sensor, ating the energy for the corresponding volume for each sensor, and summing the energy changes for all the sensors to determine the amount of energy consumed.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of continually monitoring the sensor readings.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including the step of recording sensor readings in response to a start event and in response to an end event.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 including the step of recording first ature measurement from each sensor when a change in temperature is detected at one of the sensors is detected.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sensor reading is recorded when a rate of change of temperature exceeds a predetermined first temperature change rate.
6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, including the step of recording a second ature measurement when the rate of change of temperature is less than a second predetermined temperature change rate.
7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, including recording chronological data for energy consumption information together with the ated energy consumption.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, including the step of determining usage pattern from the energy consumption information and the chronological ation.
9. In a controller for controlling a water heater having a tank with two or more ature sensors located at predetermined heights on or in the tank, a method of calculating an estimate of the change in heat energy for equal volumes of water in a tank of a water heater system, the method including the steps of: P1687NZ00 MARKED-UP COPY determining a first average temperature of the water in the tank before water is consumed; determining a second e temperature of the water in the tank after the consumption has ceased; ating the temperature difference between the first average temperature and the second e temperature; multiplying the temperature difference by the volume of the tank.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, including the step of multiplying the product of the temperature differential and the volume by the specific heat of water.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2011902196A AU2011902196A0 (en) | 2011-06-03 | A Water Heater Controller or System | |
AU2011902196 | 2011-06-03 | ||
PCT/AU2012/000637 WO2012162763A1 (en) | 2011-06-03 | 2012-06-01 | A water heater controller or system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ616881A NZ616881A (en) | 2015-10-30 |
NZ616881B2 true NZ616881B2 (en) | 2016-02-02 |
Family
ID=
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