ELECTRIC WATER HEATER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general field of water heaters and, more particularly, to an electric water heater including two reservoirs.

BACKGROUND

A common type of water heater include a tank in which one or more electric heating elements are provided. Convection in the tank may lead to inefficiencies in the water heating process, as cold water entering the tank when hot water is withdrawn therefrom can mix with the hot water present in the tank, which may lead to a drop in its temperature. Furthermore, these known electric water heaters are prone to develop a relatively large temperature difference between the top and bottom portion of their reservoir tank, the latter being colder. This is especially the case for any water located close to the bottom of the reservoir tank. Thus, they may facilitate the proliferation of the Legionella bacteria, which is an aquatic bacteria that can particularly proliferate in waters ranging between 68° F. and 122° F. (20° C. and 50° C.). The Legionella bacteria can cause the Legionnaire disease.

Thus, there is a need on the market for an improved water heater. An object of the present invention is to provide such an improved water heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect, there is provided a water heater, comprising a storage tank defining opposed storage tank lower and upper ends, the storage tank being provided with a storage tank outlet for releasing water contained thereinto; a heating tank provided inside the storage tank and provided with a heating element thereinto, the heating tank defining opposed heating tank lower and upper ends, the heating tank being also provided with a heating tank outlet for releasing the water contained thereinto to the storage tank; an inlet for providing the water to the water heater; and a fluid throughway distinct from the heating tank outlet allowing flow of the water between the heating and storage tanks.

The fluid throughway allows water to flow between the storage and heating tank to keep them both full when water is withdrawn from the storage tank outlet and/or water is released through the heating tank outlet. The fluid throughway may be integrated with an inlet pipe forming the inlet, or may take the form of a pipe or opening extending between the storage and heating tanks, among other possibilities.

There may also be provided a water heater further comprising a thermostat for receiving electrical power to power the heating element, the thermostat including a temperature sensor for sensing a stored water temperature of the water outside the heating tank, for example in the storage tank, the thermostat being operable for transmitting the electrical power to the heating element when the stored water temperature falls below a predetermined stored water temperature.

There may also be provided a water heater further comprising a valve at the heating tank outlet, the valve only allowing the water to flow from the heating tank to the storage tank when the water in the heating tank adjacent the valve is at or above a predetermined temperature.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the inlet is configured to deliver the water in the storage tank adjacent the storage tank lower end and the storage tank outlet is adjacent the storage tank upper end.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the heating tank lower end is spaced apart from the storage tank lower end.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the inlet is configured to deliver the water to the heating tank adjacent the heating tank lower end and the heating tank outlet is adjacent the heating thank upper end.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the heating tank upper end is at the storage tank upper end.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the heating element is provided adjacent the heating tank upper end.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein a partition wall delimiting upper and lower compartments extends across the heating tank between the heating tank upper and lower ends, the partition wall including a passageway extending therethrough allowing the water to move between the upper and lower compartments.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein a pump is operatively coupled to the passageway for selectively pumping the water from the lower compartment to the upper compartment.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the pump is powered when the heating element is powered.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the pump is powered only when the heating element is powered.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the heating tank outlet is provided with a diffusing head for angularly spreading the water dispensed through the heating tank outlet.

There may also be provided a water heater further comprising a heat exchanger positioned in the heating tank adjacent the heating tank inlet, the heat exchanger being connectable to an external supply for circulating external water therethrough and exchange heat between the external water and the water contained in the heating tank.

There may also be provided a water heater further comprising a secondary tank outside of the storage tank; first and second pipes each extending between the storage and secondary tanks for allowing circulation of the water from the storage tank, through the secondary tank, and back to at least one of the storage and heating tanks.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the fluid throughway includes an opening formed in the heating tank.

There may also be provided a water heater wherein the opening is provided at the heating tank lower end.

There may also be provided a water heater further comprising a valve for controlling flow of the water through the opening, the valve being open only when the water contained in the storage tank adjacent thereto is below a predetermined predetermined temperature.

By heating water in the heating tank, one ensures that this just produced hot water is less diluted with cold water than in many conventional water heaters. Also, in some embodiments, the position of the heating element distances the latter from deposits that may accumulate in the water heater, due for example to unfiltered sediments or lime deposits, which can extend the life of the heating element in some conditions.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, in a perspective view, illustrates an embodiment of an electric water heater, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2, in a side cut away view, illustrates the electric water heater shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, in a schematic view, illustrates an embodiment of an electric control system for the electric water heater of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, in a schematic view, illustrates another embodiment of an electric control system for an electric control system for the electric water heater of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, in a perspective view, illustrates an alternate embodiment of an electric water heater substantially similar to the embodiment in FIG. 1, here shown further comprising multiple auxiliary tanks interconnected in series;

FIG. 6, in a side cut away view, illustrates the alternate embodiment of an electric water heater in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7, in a side cut away view, illustrates an embodiment of an electric water heater similar to the one in FIG. 1, here shown further comprising a drain water heat recovery coil;

FIG. 8, in a partial cut away view, illustrates an embodiment of a water circulation means usable in the water heaters of FIGS. 1 to 7;

FIG. 9, in a partial cut away view, illustrates another embodiment of a water circulation means usable in the water heaters of FIGS. 1 to 7;

FIG. 10, in a partial cut away view, illustrates yet another embodiment of a water circulation means usable in the water heaters of FIGS. 1 to 7;

FIG. 11, in a partial cut away view, illustrates the lower end of a heating tank, here shown defining a bottom opening communicating with the bottom of a storage tank and usable in the water heaters of FIGS. 1 to 7;

FIG. 12, in a partial cut away view, illustrates an alternative lower end of a heating tank, here shown defining a bottom opening communicating with the bottom of a storage tank and usable in the water heaters of FIGS. 1 to 7; and

FIG. 13, in a partial cut away view, illustrates another alternative lower end of a heating tank, here shown defining a bottom opening communicating with the bottom of a storage tank and usable in the water heaters of FIGS. 1 to 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate various aspects of an embodiment, according to the present invention, of an electric water heater 100. Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, the electric water heater 100 comprises a storage tank 102 for storing heated water. Typically, the storage tank 102 has a generally cylindrical configuration extending vertically defining a storage tank bottom wall 104 at its bottom end, a storage tank top wall 106 at its top end, and a storage tank cylindrical side wall 108 extending longitudinally between the storage tank bottom and top walls 104 and 106. Thus the storage tank 102 forms a storage tank interior 110 therein.

The electric water heater 100 further comprises a heating tank 112 for heating water. The heating tank 112 also typically has a cylindrical configuration extending vertically and includes a heating tank bottom wall 114 at its bottom end, a heating tank top wall 116 at its top end, and a heating tank cylindrical side wall 118 extending longitudinally between the heating tank bottom wall 114 and the heating tank top wall 116, thus forming a heating tank interior 120 therein. The heating tank 112 has a relatively smaller diameter and vertical dimension with respect to the storage tank 102 and is located inside the storage tank 102.

Typically, the heating tank top wall 116 is cooperatively formed out of, or alternatively, is coplanarly proximally connected to, a substantially centrally located interior surface portion of the storage tank top wall 106. Also, the heating tank bottom wall 114 is located in a spaced apart relationship at least slightly above the storage tank bottom wall 104 so as to allow water in the storage tank 102 to freely circulate there between.

In some embodiments, the electric water heater 100 further comprises a partition wall 130. The partition wall 130 extends transversally throughout the diameter of the heating tank interior 120, and at a predetermined intermediate longitudinal location thereof. Thus the partition wall 130 defines within the heating tank interior 120 a lower compartment 132 below the partition wall 130 and an upper compartment 134 above the partition wall 130. A passageway 144 extends through the partition wall 130, allowing the water to move between the upper and lower compartments 132 and 134.

The electric water heater 100 further comprises an inlet for providing water to the water heater 100, for example in the form of a cold water inlet pipe 122. The inlet could deliver water to the storage tank 102, the heating tank 112, or both the storage and heating tanks 102 and 112. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the inlet takes the form of a cold water inlet pipe 122 extending laterally transversally through both a lower side wall portion of the storage tank 102 and a lower sidewall portion of the heating tank 112 located inside the lower compartment 132. The cold water inlet pipe 122 includes a cold water inlet pipe input end 123 in fluid communication with an external pressurized cold water supply, and a cold water inlet pipe output end 127 connected in fluid communication with the heating tank interior 120 located substantially proximally the heating tank bottom wall 114. The cold water inlet pipe 122 also defines an aperture 129 leading to the storage tank 102. In such embodiments, the inlet is therefore configured to deliver the water in the storage and heating tanks 102 and 112 adjacent their respective lower ends.

The electric water heater 100 further comprises a heating tank outlet, for example in the form of a heated water outlet pipe 124. The heated water outlet pipe 124 includes a first end in fluid communication with an upper portion of the storage tank interior 110, and a second end connected to an external hot water distribution tubing of, for example, a residential home, an office building, or the likes (not shown in the figures). Yet furthermore, the electric water heater 100 further includes a fluid throughway distinct from the heating tank outlet allowing flow of the water between the heating and storage tanks 112 and 102. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, this fluid throughway takes the form of the portion of the cold water input pipe extending between the heating tank 112 and the aperture 129.

The electric water heater 100 further comprises an electrically powered water heating element 126. The water heating element 126 includes a heating element base portion 128, for example connected vertically through both the coplanarly extending storage tank top wall 106 and heating tank top wall 116, and a substantially elongated heating element U-shaped coil 131 extending vertically downwardly from the heating element base portion 128 and into the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112, typically at the upper end thereof.

The heating tank 112 further comprises a heating tank outlet for releasing the water contained thereinto. For example the heating tank outlet includes a storage tank thermostat water valve 136. The thermostat water valve 136 is connected through the side wall portion of the heating tank 112 and substantially proximally the heating tank top wall 116. The thermostat water valve 136 includes a thermostat water valve inlet in fluid communication with the water to be heated in the heating tank upper compartment 134, and a thermostat water valve outlet in fluid communication with the storage tank interior 110. The thermostat water valve 136 is configured to automatically open when the temperature of the water in the heating tank 112 and in contact therewith has reached a predetermined heated water temperature, for example of roughly between 49° C. (120° F.) and 60° C. (140° F.). Other temperature ranges of operation for the thermostat water valve 136 are also possible.

In some embodiments, the electric water heater 100 may further comprise a diffusing head 138 for angularly spreading the water dispensed by the heating tank 112. The diffusing head 138 includes a diffusing head inlet connected to the thermostat water valve outlet and a diffusing head outlet extending substantially laterally distally away therefrom so as to spread substantially evenly heated water pouring out through the thermostat water valve outlet within the upper portion of the storage tank interior 110.

In some embodiments, the electric water heater 100 further comprises an electrically powered pump 140 for selectively pumping water from the lower compartment 132 to the upper compartment 134. The pump 140 is connected to the partition wall 130 and includes a water circulation means inlet in fluid communication with the lower compartment 132, and a water circulation means outlet in fluid communication with the upper compartment 134. The pump 140 is configured for circulating water to be heated at least partially from the lower compartment 132 towards the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112 through the passageway 144. The pump 140 takes for example the form of an impeller extending across the passageway 144, but any other suitable pump is usable. In other embodiments, a pump is inserted at any other suitable location in the piping associates with the water heater 100 to provide circulation between the colder and hotter portions thereof.

The electric water heater 100 further comprises an electrically powered thermostat control unit 142. The thermostat control unit 142 is mounted on the storage tank 102 and includes a conventional thermal sensor (not shown in the figure) in thermal communication with the water stored in the storage tank 102 located substantially adjacent the storage tank bottom wall 104. Typically, the thermal sensor is mounted directly on the thermostat control unit 142 and extends through the storage tank cylindrical side wall 108 and into the storage tank interior 110.

As illustrated in schematic view in FIG. 3, the thermostat control unit 142 is operatively electrically connected to the water heating element 126 and the pump 140 for transmitting electrical power thereto when the stored water temperature of water stored in the storage tank 102 falls below a predetermined stored water temperature. For example, the predetermined stored water temperature is substantially similar to the predetermined heated water temperature.

A typical operation cycle of the electric water heater 100 is now described, presuming that the storage tank 102 is filled with heated water and the heating tank 112 filled with water to be heated. When the thermal sensor of the thermostat control unit 142 measures a water temperature roughly equal to or below the predetermined heated water temperature, the thermostat control unit 142 actuates the heating element 126 in the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112, so as to start raising the water temperature therein, and actuates the pump 140, so as to at least partially circulate cold water in the lower compartment 132 towards the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112.

When the water to be heated in the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112 reaches the predetermined heated water temperature, the thermostat water valve 136 at least slightly and gradually opens so as allow at least some of the heated water to circulate through the diffusing head 138 and into the storage tank 102. The thus released water is replenished through water coming from the storage tank 112, typically admitted in the heating tank 112 through the lower compartment 132.

When the thermal sensor of the thermostat control unit 142 measures a water temperature roughly equal to or above the predetermined heated water temperature, the thermostat control unit 142 stops actuating the heating element 126 and pump 140. Heat will then be gradually lost, and when the water to be heated in the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112 gradually loses temperature to roughly below the predetermined heated water temperature, the thermostat water valve 136 gradually closes.

The operation cycle described above is automatically repeated at predetermined intervals of time depending on the frequency and volume of heated water usage drawn out of the storage tank 102 through its heated water outlet pipe 124, and also of the ambient temperature where the electric water heater 100 is installed, the quality of isolation material covering the storage tank 102 and the pipe connections to the latter, etc. Advantageously, the electric water heater 100 of the present invention, after prolonged usage over many years, is less prone to develop a widening temperature difference between the top and bottom portion of its storage tank 102. Thus, the electric water heater 100 is less prone to foster the proliferation of the Legionella bacteria, compared to known water heaters of the prior art, as the presence of stagnating colder water at the bottom of the storage tank 102 is reduced or eliminated.

A similar operation occurs when hot water is released by the storage tank 102, which leads to cold water entering the electric water heater 100 through the inlet pipe 122.

It is contemplated that the thermostat control unit 142 may actuate the heating element 126 and water circulation means synchronously, as described above, or with asynchronous overlapping phases, delayed, preceding or extended actuation phases relative to one another, depending on one or more predetermined ascending an/or descending temperature levels detected by the thermal sensor of the thermostat control unit 142.

In some embodiments, as exemplified in FIGS. 2 and 8, the pump 140 includes a motor operated turbine or impeller 150 mounted in a suitably sized passageway 144 extending vertically through the partition wall 130. Thus, the motor operated turbine or impeller 150 may be suitably operated so as to at least partially circulate water from the lower compartment 132 towards the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112 without sufficient water pressure for forcing water to be expelled through the thermostat water valve 136.

In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 9, the pump 140 is a motor operated centrifugal or piston water pump 146 and pressure switch 148 combination that at least partially circulate water from the lower compartment 132 towards the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112 when the pressure switch 148 measures a low water pressure level in the upper compartment 134, for example, when heated water is drawn out through the heated water outlet pipe 124 of the storage tank 102.

In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 10, the pump 140 is a centrifugal or piston pump 146 and combined with one or more openings 152 defined vertically through the partition wall 130. Thus, the centrifugal or piston pump 146 may be suitably operated so as to at least partially circulate water from the lower compartment 132 towards the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112 without sufficient water pressure for forcing water to be expelled through the thermostat water valve 136 due to the return water path into the lower compartment via the openings 152. Other known pumps are also usable in alternative embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate alternative fluid throughways allowing water to circulate between the heating and storage tanks 112 and 102. Such fluid throughways may take the form of a water recirculation means. The water recirculation means extends through the heating tank bottom wall 114 and configured for allowing at least a relatively small flow of slowly cooling water accumulating along the storage tank bottom wall 104 to recirculate into the lower compartment 132 of the heating tank 112 and subsequently circulated upwardly into the upper compartment 134 so as to be in contact with the heating element 126. During low or no usage of heated water through the heated water outlet pipe 124, still water accumulating along the bottom of the storage tank 102 may slowly cool Thus, the water recirculation means allows to recirculate this slowly cooling water back up into the heating tank 112.

In some embodiments of the invention the water recirculation means is one of: a suitably sized opening 162 extending through the heating tank, for example extending through the heating tank bottom wall 114, as illustrated in FIG. 11, a suitably sized and configured spring biased one-way valve 164, as illustrated in FIG. 12, or a solenoid valve 166, as illustrated in FIG. 13. As would be familiar to someone versed in controlled fluid circulation networks, the spring biased one-way valve 164, as exemplified in FIG. 12, may be represented by a simple spring biased flap valve, as illustrated, a wax-type thermal valve or below-type thermal valve commonly found in thermal engine cooling systems. As illustrated in schematic view in FIG. 4, the solenoid valve 166 is operatively connected to the thermostat control unit 142 so as to be suitably activated when the thermal sensor of the latter detects a predetermined low water temperature along the lower portion of the storage tank 102.

Referring to FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the electric water heater 100′ further comprises a heat exchanger connectable to an external supply for circulating external water therethrough and exchange heat between the external water and the water contained in the heating tank 112. This heat exchanger may for example take the form of a drain water heat recovery coil 170. The drain water heat recovery coil 170 includes a coil tubing inlet 172 and a coil tubing outlet 174 each extending substantially vertically through the heating tank top wall 116 and partition wall 130. The drain water heat recovery coil 170 further includes a cylindrical coil tubing portion 176 located substantially vertically centrally inside the heating tank lower compartment 132, and is connected in fluid communication between the coil tubing inlet 172 and coil tubing outlet 174. Furthermore, the coil tubing inlet 172 is connected to an external source of hot or warm drain water, and the coil tubing outlet 174 to an external sewer system. Thus, hot or warm drain water collected from, for example, a kitchen sink, a dishwasher, a clothes washer, a shower or bath tub, may be recuperated and advantageously used for reducing the overall electrical power consumption of the electric water heater 100 of the present invention by warming the cold water incoming from the cold water inlet pipe 122, prior to entering the upper compartment 134 where is located the heating element 126.

In some embodiments, the heating element actuation profile includes an actuation of the heating element 126 according to at least one parameter in the group consisting of actuation time delay, actuation time duration, and actuation power amplitude. For example, the heating element actuation profile may consist of actuating the heating element 126 as long as the thermal sensor of the electrically powered thermostat control unit 142 measures a water temperature roughly equal to or below the predetermined heated water temperature. Other heating element actuation profiles are also possible.

In some embodiments, the water circulation means actuation profile includes an actuation of the pump 140 according to at least one parameter in the group consisting of actuation time delay, actuation time duration, and actuation power amplitude. For example, the water circulation means actuation profile may consist of actuating the pump 140 starting at the end of a first predetermined delay following the actuation of the heating element 126, and ending after a second predetermined following a deactivation of the heating element 126. Other water circulation means actuation profiles are also possible.

The thermostat water valve 136 is for example one of a wax type or a below type thermostat water valve commonly found in thermal engine cooling systems. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined heated water temperature is roughly 54° C. (130° F.), which is substantially the average hot water temperature level usually available through common household faucets, dishwashers, showers and the likes.

As exemplified in FIGS. 5 and 6, in an alternate embodiment 200 of the invention, the electric water heater 100 of the embodiment described heretofore further comprises at least one auxiliary tank 180, a corresponding number thereof of bottom-to-top interconnection pipes 182, and a return pipe 184. The storage tank 102 and each one of the at least one auxiliary tank 180, is serially interconnected in fluid communication to one another through, first in the series, the storage tank 102, followed with each one of the at least one auxiliary tank 180.

Furthermore, the storage tank 102 and subsequent auxiliary tank(s) 180 are serially interconnected to one another through one of the bottom-to-top interconnection pipe(s) 182. Furthermore, each one of the bottom-to-top interconnection pipe(s) 182 includes an interconnection inlet 186 connected in fluid communication through a bottom sidewall portion of the preceding tank in the series, and an interconnection outlet 188 connected in fluid communication through a top sidewall portion of the following tank in the series. Furthermore, the return pipe 184 includes a return pipe inlet 190 connected in fluid communication through a bottom sidewall portion of the last auxiliary tank 180 in the series, and a return pipe outlet 192 in fluid communication with the storage tank cold water inlet pipe 124. Still furthermore, the alternate embodiment of the electric water heater 200 further comprises an auxiliary tank cold water inlet pipe 196 extending laterally transversally through a lower side wall portion of the auxiliary tank 180 and includes a cold water inlet pipe input end in fluid communication with an external pressurized cold water supply (not shown in the figures). In this embodiment, the aperture 129 may be absent, as the fluid throughway is embodied by the return pipe 184 and the interconnected auxiliary tanks 180.

Thus, via the pump 140, heated water contained in the upper compartment 134 of the heating tank 112 is eventually circulated throughout the electric water heater 100 starting with the storage tank 102 followed serially through each of the auxiliary tanks 180, and finally back in the lower compartment 132 of the heating tank 112, before being again circulated upward into the upper compartment 134.

In some embodiments, each one of the at least one auxiliary tank 180 includes dimensions, shape configuration and vertical orientation that are substantially similar to those of the storage tank 102. Also, the storage tank 102 and all the auxiliary tanks 180 are typically located substantially proximally parallelly relative to one another, so as to minimize the length, and thus, heat losses, due to heated water circulating through each bottom-to-top interconnection pipes 182 and the return pipe 184. The thermostat control unit 142 may have a temperature probe that sense the temperature of any suitable ones of the various reservoirs shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example the temperature of water in the auxiliary tank 180 that is furthest from the storage tank 102,

In some embodiments, as exemplified in FIG. 6, the alternate embodiment of the electric water heater 200 includes a drain water heat recovery coil 170 located vertically centrally, and substantially proximally an auxiliary tank bottom wall 194 inside at least one of the at least one auxiliary tank 180, starting with the last auxiliary tank 180 in the series where cold water enters directly into the electric water heater 100 from an external source of cold water via the auxiliary tank cold water inlet pipe 200.

Still further preferably, and likewise the first embodiment of the electric water heater 100 described further above, the storage tank 102 and all the auxiliary tanks 180 and pipes of the presently described embodiment of the electric water heater 200 are suitably thermally isolated using isolation material, technologies and assemblies known in the general field of electric water heaters on the market. Thus, more heated water generated through the heating tank 112 can be stored in the electric water heater 100, with the stored heated water being optimally maintained substantially close to the predetermined heated water temperature through one or more auxiliary tanks 180, wherein at least the last one in the series of auxiliary tanks 180 includes a drain water heat recovery coil 170, as illustrated.

Although, the storage tank 102 and all the auxiliary tanks 180 are typically all having same dimensions, shape and orientation as mentioned above, a variety of differently sized and shaped storage and auxiliary tanks 180 are also possible without departing from the present invention. In some embodiments, the storage tank 102 and the auxiliary tanks 180 all have identical and relatively smaller diameter and greater length (or height) than commonly available electric water heaters on the market such as, for examples, the usual diameter to length ratio of the well known 40, 60 and 80 gallon capacity electric water heaters.

The illustrations of the tanks in the drawings each have cylindrical proportions similar to conventional electric water heaters, so as to facilitate the illustrations of the inner components thereof and may not represent the preferred cylindrical proportions for the invention. The heating, storage and auxiliary tanks, electric heating element, electric thermostat, thermal valve, tubing, water circulation means, thermal isolation materials, etc. can be made of conventional materials and components normally used in the assembly of conventional electric water heaters and water plumbing network in general.

It is further contemplated that the thermostat control unit 142 may include an embedded microprocessor control unit, memory and wireless communication capability for allowing a remote computer device, such as a mobile phone executing a suitable mobile application, to select user preferred settings, heating element 126 and pump 140 actuation profiles, and download control software updates, among other user settings and functions applicable to the electric water heater 100 of the present invention.

Thus there has been described various embodiments 100 and 200, according to the present invention, of an electric water heater that allows reductions in long term maintenance costs due to the particular assembly of the heating tank 112, including the vertical heating element 126 positioned adjacent the top wall thereof, and an internal pump 140 located between an upper and a lower compartment 134 and 132, with the heating tank 112 located centrally proximally the storage tank top wall 106.

The particular configuration of the vertically extending heating element 126 adjacent the top wall of the internal heating tank 112 further significantly reduces the long term maintenance costs of the heating element 126, compared to known electric water heaters having their heating element extending laterally from an inner side wall portion of the storage tank, or vertically upwardly from the inner bottom surface thereof, which are prone to accumulate lime deposits, thus reducing their efficiency over time. In addition, release of hot water adjacent the heated water outlet pipe 124 may ensure in some embodiments that hot water is available for a longer duration than in conventional water heater when hot water is withdrawn from the storage tank 102 due to a reduction in mixing between the cold water entering the storage tank 102 and the heated water produced by the heating element 126.

It is well known in the art of tanks and reservoirs containing a fluid maintained at a predetermined temperature, that the latter is subject to a natural convection effect occurring between the top and bottom portion of the tanks or reservoirs. Although not shown in the drawings, at least one of the heating tank 112, the storage tank 102, and/or the auxiliary tanks 180 may further include one or more of fluid baffles (not shown in the figures), such as baffle plates disposed at an angle that are extending transversally between the opposed interior side walls of the tank, so as to optimize the heat distribution within the fluid contained in the tank.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. The present invention can thus be modified without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER

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CPC

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Priority Claims (1)