Water Heaters and Methods for Monitoring Anode Rod Depletion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017193794-A1
Application number	US-201614988810-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Jan 6, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Water heaters and methods for monitoring anode rod depletion in water heaters are provided. A water heater includes a tank for holding a volume of water, and an anode rod extending into the water and electrically connected to an electrical ground such that a galvanic current flows from the anode rod to the electrical ground. The water heater further includes at least one heating element configured to heat the water when energized, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a galvanic current level, compare the galvanic current level to a threshold current level, and transmit an alert signal when the galvanic current level is less than the threshold current level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A water heater, comprising:
a tank for holding a volume of water; an anode rod extending into the water and electrically connected to an electrical ground such that a galvanic current flows from the anode rod to the electrical ground; at least one heating element configured to heat the water when energized; and a controller, the controller configured to:
receive a galvanic current level;
compare the galvanic current level to a threshold current level; and
transmit an alert signal when the galvanic current level is less than the threshold current level.

2 . The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the threshold current level is a predetermined threshold current level.

3 . The water heater of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined threshold current level is between 1 milliamp and 1.5 milliamps.

4 . The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive an initial galvanic current level before receipt of the galvanic current level; and calculate the threshold current e based on the initial galvanic current level and a depletion factor.

5 . The water heater of claim 4 , wherein the depletion factor is between 10% and 30%.

6 . The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the threshold current level is a first threshold current level and the alert, signal is a first alert signal, and wherein the controller is further configured to:
compare the galvanic current level to a second threshold current level, the second threshold current level less than the first threshold current level; and transmit a second alert signal when the galvanic current level is less than the second threshold current level.

7 . The water heater of claim 6 , wherein the second alert signal is different from the first alert signal.

8 . The water heater of claim 6 , wherein the second threshold current level is a predetermined threshold current level.

9 . The water heater of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined threshold current level is between 0.3 milliamp and 0.7 milliamps.

10 . The water heater of claim 1 , further comprising a reference probe, the reference probe extending into the water and electrically connected to the electrical ground.

11 . The water heater of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a reference feedback signal; and adjust the threshold current level based on the reference feedback signal.

12 . A method for monitoring anode rod depletion in a water heater, the method comprising:
receiving a galvanic current level flowing from the anode rod to an electrical ground, the anode rod extending into a volume of water disposed within a tank of the water heater, comparing the galvanic current level to a threshold current level; and transmitting an alert signal when the galvanic current level is less than the threshold current level.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the threshold current level is a predetermined threshold current level.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving an initial galvanic current level before receipt of the galvanic current level; and calculating the threshold current level based on the initial galvanic current level and a depletion factor.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the depletion factor is between 10% and 30%.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the threshold current level is a first threshold current level and the alert signal is a first alert signal, and further comprising:
comparing the galvanic current level to a second threshold current level, the second threshold current level less than the first threshold current level; and transmitting a second alert signal when the galvanic current level is less than the second threshold current level.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second alert signal s different from the first alert signal.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second threshold currents a predetermined threshold current level.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving a reference feedback signal flowing from a reference probe to the electrical ground, the reference probe extending into the volume of water.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising adjusting the threshold current level based on the reference feedback signal.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Farris Brett Alan
• Gross Michelle Diana

Classifications

• F24H9/2021

  Storage heaters · CPC title

• F24H9/0047

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• G08B21/182 Primary

  Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold · CPC title

• F24H9/45

  for preventing galvanic corrosion, e.g. cathodic or electrolytic means · CPC title