Hot Water Control Systems

Abstract

An energy management system and method for water heater system is arranged for control of the water heater system based on user demand, and control the of water distribution base on demand and water temperature of the recirculation loop. The energy management system includes a control center collecting operational parameter of the water heater system and real time information of hot water usage at each of user points, and a management center for managing operational parameter of the water heater system. and real time information of hot water usage, wherein the management center is preset for automatically turning each of a motorized unit and a water heater unit of the water heater system in an on and off manner in responsive to hot water demand at user point so as to optimize energy saving of the water heater system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An energy management system for a water heater system which comprises a water heater unit for heating up water and a motorized unit circulating said hot water in a recirculation loop to define one or more user points thereat, wherein said energy management system comprises:
 a control center for collecting operational parameter of said water heater system and for collecting real time information of hot water usage at each of said user points; and   a management center operatively linked to said control center for managing said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of said hot water usage, wherein said management center is preset for automatically turning each of said motorized unit and said water heater unit in an on and off manner in responsive to hot water demand at said user point so as to optimize energy saving of said water heater system.   
     
     
         2 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said control center comprises one or more temperature sensors being located at predetermined locations of said water heater system for obtaining temperature data of said water heater unit and along said recirculation loop so as to enable said management center operatively controlling said motorized unit and said water heater unit. 
     
     
         3 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a diagnostic center operatively linked to said control center for diagnosing said operational parameter of said water heater system for promptly and accurately optimizing an operation of said water heater system in a real time basis. 
     
     
         4 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a diagnostic center operatively linked to said control center for diagnosing said operational parameter of said water heater system for promptly and accurately optimizing an operation of said water heater system in a real time basis. 
     
     
         5 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said diagnostic center comprises a temperature diagnostic module for tracking the water heater runtime by means of water temperature throughout said water heater system to determine whether said water heater system is working properly, a motor diagnostic module for tracking an on-off status of said motorized unit of said water heater system by means of electrical energy consumption to determine whether said motorized unit is working properly, a water flow diagnostic module for detecting water flow along said recirculation loop to track hot water being demanded at each user point and to provide water leak detection; and a meter diagnostic module for tracking data from a source meter of said water heater system. 
     
     
         6 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said diagnostic center comprises a temperature diagnostic module for tracking the water heater runtime by means of water temperature throughout said water heater system to determine whether said water heater system is working properly, a motor diagnostic module for tracking an on-off status of said motorized unit of said water heater system by means of electrical energy consumption to determine whether said motorized unit is working properly, a water flow diagnostic module for detecting water flow along said recirculation loop to track hot water being demanded at each user point and to provide water leak detection; and a meter diagnostic module for tracking data from a source meter of said water heater system. 
     
     
         7 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface operatively linked to said control center for configuring said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage at each of said user points in a digitalized manner so as to enable said management center being selectively configured to optimize the operation of said water heater system. 
     
     
         8 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a user interface operatively linked to said control center for digitalizing and displaying said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage at each of said user points so as to enable said management center being selectively configured to optimize the operation of said water heater system. 
     
     
         9 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a user interface operatively linked to said control center for digitalizing and displaying said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage at each of said user points so as to enable said management center being selectively configured to optimize the operation of said water heater system. 
     
     
         10 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said user interface comprises a communication unit communicatively linking to said control center to enable said management center being remotely controlled through said communication unit. 
     
     
         11 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said user interface comprises a communication unit communicatively linking to said control center to enable said management center being remotely controlled through said communication unit. 
     
     
         12 . the energy management system, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said user interface comprises a communication unit communicatively linking to said control center to enable said management center being remotely controlled through said communication unit. 
     
     
         13 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said communication unit comprises a remote web-server for dissemination and storage of said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage, and a graphical converter for converting said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage into customizable and viewable graph display to be monitored through said web-server. 
     
     
         14 . the energy management system, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said communication unit comprises a remote web-server for dissemination and storage of said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage, and a graphical converter for converting said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage into customizable and viewable graph display to be monitored through said web-server. 
     
     
         15 . The energy management system, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said communication unit comprises a remote web-server for dissemination and storage of said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage, and a graphical converter for converting said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage into customizable and viewable graph display to be monitored through said web-server. 
     
     
         16 . A method of energy management for a water heater system which comprises a water heater unit and a motorized unit circulating hot water through a recirculation loop, comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting operational parameter of said water heater system and collecting real time information of hot water usage at each of user points of said water heater system; and   (b) managing said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of said hot water usage for automatically turning said motorized unit and said water heater unit in an on and off manner in responsive to hot water demand at said user point so as to optimize energy saving of said water heater system.   
     
     
         17 . The method, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the step (a) further comprises the step of obtaining temperature data of said water heater unit and along said recirculation loop. 
     
     
         18 . the method as recited in  claim 17  wherein, in the step (a), said water heater unit is controlled for automatically lowering down the water temperature of said water heater unit during periods of low or no demand of hot water thereof, and is modulated back to a normal preset water temperature during high usage periods of how water. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18  wherein, in the step (b), said motorized unit is controlled in condition that:
 (i) said motorized unit is turned on when there is hot water demand at said user point; 
 (ii) said motorized unit is turned on when there is not sufficient hot water along said recirculation loop; and 
 (iii) said motorized unit is turned off when hot water is circulated back to said water heater unit through said recirculation loop. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method, as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a step of diagnosing said operational parameter of said water heater system for promptly and accurately optimizing an operation of said water heater system in a real time basis. 
     
     
         21 . The method, as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a step of diagnosing said operational parameter of said water heater system for promptly and accurately optimizing an operation of said water heater system in a real time basis. 
     
     
         22 . the method, as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the diagnosing step comprises the steps of:
 tracking the water heater runtime by means of water temperature throughout said water heater system to determine whether said water heater system is working properly;   tracking an on-off status of acid motorized unit of said water heater system by means of electrical energy consumption to determine whether said motorized unit is working properly;   detecting water flow along said recirculation loop to track hot water being demanded at each user point and to provide water leak detection; and   tracking data from a source meter of said water heater system.   
     
     
         23 . The method, as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the diagnosing step comprises the steps of:
 tracking the water heater runtime by means of water temperature throughout water heater system to determine whether said water heater system is working   tracking an on-off status of said motorized unit of said water heater system by means of electrical energy consumption to determine whether said motorized unit is working properly;   detecting water flow along said recirculation loop to track hot water being demanded at each user point and to provide water leak detection; and   tracking data from a source meter of said water heater system.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a step of selectively configuring said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage at each of said user points in a digitalized manner so as to enable said management center being selectively configured to optimize the operation of said water heater system. 
     
     
         25 . The method, as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising a step of selectively configuring said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage at each of said user points in a digitalized manner so as to enable said management center being selectively configured to optimize the operation of said water heater system. 
     
     
         26 . The method, as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the configuring step comprises the steps of:
 converting said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage into customizable and viewable graph display; and   remotely configuring said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage via a web-server.   
     
     
         27 . The method, as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the configuring step comprises the steps of:
 converting said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time informational of hot water usage into customizable and viewable graph display; and   remotely configuring said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage via a web-server.   
     
     
         28 . A central water heater arrangement, comprising:
 one or more water heater system, each comprising a water heater unit for heating up water, a motorized unit circulating said hot water in a recirculation loop to define one or more user points thereat; and   an energy management system which comprises:   a control center for collecting operational parameter of said water heater system and for collecting real time information of hot water usage at each of said user points;   a management center operatively linked to said control center for managing said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of said hot water usage; and   a user interface operatively linked to said control center for configuring said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage at each of said user points in a digitalized manner so as to enable said management center being selectively configured to optimize the operation of said water heater system.   
     
     
         29 . The central water heater arrangement, as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said user interface comprises a communication unit communicatively linking to said control center to enable said management center being remotely controlled through said communication unit. 
     
     
         30 . The central water heater arrangement, as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said communication unit comprises a remote web-server for dissemination and storage of said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage and a graphical converter for converting said operational parameter of said water heater system and said real time information of hot water usage into customizable and viewable graph display to be monitored through said web-server. 
     
     
         31 . The central water heater arrangement, as recited in  claim 28 , further comprising a diagnostic center operatively linked to said control center for diagnosing said operational parameter of said water heater system for generating an alert when a faulty event is detected in a real time basis. 
     
     
         32 . The central water heater arrangement, as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising a diagnostic center operatively linked to said control center for diagnosing said operational parameter of said water heater system for generating an alert when a faulty event is detected in a real time basis. 
     
     
         33 . The central water heater arrangement, as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said diagnostic center comprises a temperature diagnostic module for tracking the water heater runtime by means of water temperature throughout said water heater system to determine whether said water heater system is working properly, a motor diagnostic modulator tracking an on-off status of said motorized unit of said water heater system by means of electrical energy consumption to determine whether said motorized unit is working properly, a water flow diagnostic module for detecting water flow along said recirculation loop to track hot water being demanded at each user point and to provide water leak detection; and a meter diagnostic module for tracking data from a source meter of said water heater system. 
     
     
         34 . The central water heater arrangement, as recited in  claim 32 , wherein said diagnostic center comprises a temperature diagnostic module for tracking the water heater runtime by means of water temperature throughout said water heater system to determine whether said water heater system is working properly a motor diagnostic module for tracking an on-off status of said motorized unit of said water heater system by means of electrical energy consumption to determine whether said motorized unit is working properly, a water flow diagnostic module for detecting water flow along said recirculation loop to track hot water being demanded at each user point and to provide water leak detection; and a meter diagnostic module for tracking data from a source meter of said water heater system.