Water heater appliance and a method for operating a water heater appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10830495-B2
Application number	US-201816056589-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2018
Priority date	Aug 7, 2018
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A method for operating a water heater appliance includes determining a set temperature of the water heater appliance. The method also includes monitoring a temperature proximate to a lower heating element of the water heater appliance with a first temperature sensor of the water heater appliance and monitoring a temperature proximate to an upper heating element of the water heater appliance with a second temperature sensor of the water heater appliance. When the monitored temperature proximate the lower heating element is less than a first temperature threshold and the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is less than a second temperature threshold, the method includes turning the lower heating element on. When the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is equal to the set temperature, the method includes turning the lower heating element off. A related water heater appliance is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a water heater appliance, comprising:
determining a set temperature of the water heater appliance;
monitoring a temperature proximate to a lower heating element of the water heater appliance with a first temperature sensor of the water heater appliance;
monitoring a temperature proximate to an upper heating element of the water heater appliance with a second temperature sensor of the water heater appliance;
turning the lower heating element on when the monitored temperature proximate the lower heating element is less than a first temperature threshold and the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is less than a second temperature threshold;
turning the lower heating element off when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is equal to the set temperature; and
turning the upper element on when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is less than a third temperature threshold, wherein the third temperature threshold is equal to a maximum of the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element minus a draw factor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second temperature threshold is equal to the set temperature minus an offset.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third temperature threshold is a fixed value independent of the set temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising turning the upper element off when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is equal to a fourth temperature threshold.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising turning the lower heating element on after turning the upper heating element off, and turning the lower heating element off when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is equal to the set temperature.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fourth temperature threshold is equal to the set temperature minus a lag factor.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising turning the lower heating element on after turning the lower heating element off when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is less than a fifth temperature threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fifth temperature threshold is equal to the set temperature minus a standby factor.

9. A water heater appliance, comprising:
a tank extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along a vertical direction, the tank defining an interior volume;
an upper heating element positioned within the interior volume of the tank proximate the top portion of the tank;
a lower heating element positioned within the interior volume of the tank proximate the bottom portion of the tank;
a first temperature sensor positioned proximate the lower heating element and configured for measuring a temperature of water within the interior volume of the tank proximate the lower heating element;
a second temperature sensor positioned proximate the upper heating element and configured for measuring a temperature of water within the interior volume of the tank proximate the upper heating element; and
a controller in operative communication with the upper heating element, the lower heating element, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor, the controller configured for:
monitoring the temperature proximate to the lower heating element of the water heater appliance with the first temperature sensor;
monitoring the temperature proximate to the upper heating element of the water heater appliance with the second temperature sensor;
turning the lower heating element on when the monitored temperature proximate the lower heating element is less than a first temperature threshold and the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is less than a second temperature threshold;
turning the lower heating element off when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is equal to the set temperature;
turning the upper element on when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is less than a third temperature threshold; and
turning the upper element off when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is equal to a fourth temperature threshold, wherein the fourth temperature threshold is equal to the set temperature minus a lag factor.

10. The water heater appliance of claim 9 , wherein the second temperature threshold is equal to the set temperature minus an offset.

11. The water heater appliance of claim 9 , wherein the third temperature threshold is a fixed value independent of the set temperature.

12. The water heater appliance of claim 9 , wherein the third temperature threshold is equal to a maximum of the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element minus a draw factor.

13. The water heater appliance of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured for turning the lower heating element on after turning the upper heating element off, and turning the lower heating element off when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is equal to the set temperature.

14. The water heater appliance of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured for turning the lower heating element on after turning the lower heating element off when the monitored temperature proximate the upper heating element is less than a fifth temperature threshold.

15. The water heater appliance of claim 14 , wherein the fifth temperature threshold is equal to the set temperature minus a standby factor.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Tsai Craig Iung-Pei
• Constance Alan George
• Nelson Jonathan D
• Cox Patrick

Classifications

• F24H9/1836

  using fluid fuel · CPC title

• F24H1/206 Primary

  with submerged combustion chamber · CPC title

• F24H9/2035 Primary

  using fluid fuel · CPC title