Methods and systems for remotely managing water heating units in a water heater and related water heaters and circuits

Abstract

A method of managing electrical power storage can include remotely controlling operation of one of a plurality of water heating units included in a single water heater, separately from controlling a remainder of the plurality of the water heating units, at a customer location in response to a remotely transmitted indication.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A water heater comprising
 a water heater housing;   a water tank in the water heater housing;   a first, second, and third thermostats coupled to respective first through third water heating elements located in the water tank; and   first and second wires extending through the water heater housing to electrically couple to respective first terminals of the first and third thermostats.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1  wherein the first wire is configured to provide power to the first and second water heating elements via the first and second thermostats, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 2  wherein the second wire is configured to provide power to the third water heating element via the third thermostat. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 1  wherein the first water heating element is located in an upper portion of the water tank, the third water heating element is located in a lower portion of the water tank, and the second water heating element is located in an intermediate portion of the water tank between the upper and lower portions. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater of  claim 1  wherein each of the thermostats comprises an electromechanical thermostat. 
     
     
         6 . A water heater comprising
 a water heater housing;   a water tank in the water heater housing;   a first water heating unit associated with a first portion of the water tank and configured to heat water in the first portion of the tank;   a second water heating unit associated with a second portion of the water tank and configured to heat water in the second portion of the tank;   a load control module configured to switch power away from the first water heating unit to the second water heating unit responsive to a remote indication.   
     
     
         7 . The water heater of  claim 6  wherein the first water heating unit comprises:
 a first thermostat coupled to a first water heating element, configured to couple power to the first water heating unit to heat water in an upper part of the first portion to a first temperature; and 
 a second thermostat coupled to a second water heating element, configured to couple power to the second water heating element to heat water in a lower part of the first portion to a second temperature. 
 
     
     
         8 . The water heater of  claim 6  wherein the second water heating unit comprises:
 a thermostat coupled to a water heating element, configured to couple power to the water heating element to heat water in the second portion to a temperature. 
 
     
     
         9 . The water heater of  claim 7  wherein the first thermostat is configured to couple power to the second thermostat responsive to the water in the upper part of the first portion reaching the first temperature and the first thermostat is configured to switch power away from the second thermostat responsive to the water in the upper part of the first portion falling below the first temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater of  claim 6  wherein the remote indication is received, over a network, from a remote system associated with a service provider. 
     
     
         11 . The water heater of  claim 10  wherein the load control module comprises:
 a first switch including first and second terminals, wherein the first switch is configured to switchably couple power from an input to the first terminal in a default mode of operation and configured to switchably couple power away from the first terminal to the second terminal in a utility controlled mode for the water heater indicated by presence of the remote indication. 
 
     
     
         12 . The water heater of  claim 11  wherein the load control module is further configured to switchably couple the power away from the second terminal back to the first terminal to restore the default mode of operation for the water heater indicated by absence of the remote signal indication. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater of  claim 11  wherein the load control module is further configured to switchably couple power away from the second terminal back to the first terminal to restore the default mode of operation for the water heater in response to an indeterminate state of the remote indication. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater of  claim 12  wherein the load control module further comprises:
 a second switch including third and fourth terminals, wherein the second switch is configured to switchably couple power from an input to the third terminal in the default mode of operation and in the utility controlled mode and is configured to switchably couple power away from the third terminal to the fourth terminal in a load shed mode of operation for the water heater indicated by receipt of a load shed signal from the remote system. 
 
     
     
         15 . The water heater of  claim 6  wherein the load control module comprises an integrated load control module. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater of  claim 15  further comprising:
 respective temperature sensors coupled to the integrated load control module and each thermally coupled to the water tank at a respective portion associated with each of the water heating units. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of managing electrical power storage comprising:
 coupling power to a first water heating unit among a plurality of water heating units included in a single water heater, in a first mode of operation for the single water heater; and   switching the power away from the first water heating unit to a second water heating unit among the plurality of water heating units responsive to a remotely transmitted indication of a second mode of operation for the single water heater.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising:
 transmitting an indication of the first mode of operation from a remote system, over a network, to a customer location to operate the single water heater in a default mode of operation; and 
 transmitting the indication of the second mode of operation from the remote system over the network to the customer location to operate the single water heater in a utility controlled mode. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising:
 establishing the first mode of operation in response to absence of an indication from a remote system at a customer location to operate the single water heater in a default mode of operation; and 
 transmitting the indication of the second mode of operation from the remote system over the network to the customer location to operate the single water heater in a utility controlled mode. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the water heating units each comprise respective water heating elements, the method further comprising:
 wherein coupling power to the first water heating unit comprises coupling power to the first water heating element in an upper portion of the single water heater, and to a second water heating element in a mid-portion of the single water heater; and 
 wherein switching the power away from the first water heating unit to the second water heating unit comprises switching the power away from the first and second water heating elements to a third water heating element in a lower portion of the single water heater. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein each one of a plurality of the customer locations includes one of a plurality of single water heaters coupled to the remote system via the network, the method further comprising:
 determining selected ones of the single water heaters to operate in the utility controlled mode; and 
 transmitting the indication of the utility controlled mode of operation from the remote system over the network to the customer locations having the selected ones of the single water heaters.