Systems and Methods for Controlling Hybrid Gas Water Heater Systems Including a Gas Valve

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling hybrid water heater systems including a gas heating system and a heat pump system are provided. The gas heating system includes a burner in fluid communication with a gas line and is designed to heat the water tank. The gas line may be in fluid communication with a gas valve of a valve assembly. The heat pump system is further configured to heat the water tank. One or more temperature sensor(s) may be positioned in the water tank and in communication with a controller. The controller may determine a temperature setting for the water tank, request and/or receive one or more tank temperature(s) determined by the one or more temperature sensor(s), and/or send computer-executable instructions to the valve assembly (e.g., to transition the gas valve between closed and open positions) and/or the heat pump system (e.g., to turn on).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a hybrid water heater, the method comprising:
 determining, by a controller, a temperature setting for a water tank of the hybrid water heater, the hybrid water heater comprising a heat pump system and a gas heating system, the gas heating system including a valve assembly comprising a valve controller, a gas valve in fluid communication with a gas line connected to a burner in thermal communication with the water tank, and a temperature probe adapted to extend into the water tank, the gas valve adapted to transition between an open position and a closed position;   requesting a first tank temperature from the valve assembly;   receiving the first tank temperature from the valve assembly, the first tank temperature generated by the temperature probe;   determining to heat the water tank using the gas heating system based on the first tank temperature;   sending instructions to the valve assembly to transition the gas valve from the closed position to the open position;   requesting a second tank temperature from the valve assembly;   receiving the second tank temperature from the valve assembly, the second tank temperature generated by the temperature probe;   determining the second tank temperature satisfies the temperature setting; and   sending instructions to the valve assembly to transition the gas valve to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the valve controller. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the valve controller is adapted to receive the request for the first tank temperature and to send the first tank temperature to the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the valve controller is adapted to receive the instructions to transition the gas valve from the closed position to the open position and to cause the gas valve to transition from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a third tank temperature using one of one or more thermistors disposed in the water tank of the hybrid water system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining to heat the water tank using the gas heating system based on the third tank temperature; and   sending second instructions to the valve assembly to transition the gas valve to the open position.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the temperature setting from a remote controller. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the remote controller is a smartphone in wireless communication with the controller. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature setting is determined based on user input generated by a touchscreen display of the hybrid water heater. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump system comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve. 
     
     
         11 . A hybrid water heater system comprising:
 a water tank configured to hold a volume of water;   a gas heating system comprising a burner configured to be in fluid communication with a gas line and to heat the water tank;   a heat pump system configured to heat the water tank; and   a controller comprising memory configured to store computer-executable instructions, and at least one computer processor configured to access memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 determine a temperature setting for the water tank; 
 request a first tank temperature from a valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising a valve controller, a gas valve in fluid communication with the gas line, and a temperature probe adapted to extend into the water tank, the gas valve configured to transition between an open position and a closed position; 
 receive the first tank temperature from the valve assembly, the first tank temperature generated by the temperature probe; 
 determine the first tank temperature does not satisfy the temperature setting; and 
 send instructions to the valve assembly to transition the gas valve from the closed position to the open position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is in wired or wireless communication with the valve controller of the valve assembly and the valve controller is configured to cause the temperature probe to generate the first tank temperature and cause the gas valve to transition from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are sent by the controller to the valve controller to cause the valve controller to transition the gas valve from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the valve controller is configured to receive the request for the first tank temperature and to send the first tank temperature to the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more thermistors disposed in the water tank and configured to determine tank temperatures different than the first tank temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 determine a second tank temperature using one of the one or more thermistors;   determine to heat the water tank using the gas heating system based on the second tank temperature; and   send second instructions to the valve assembly to transition the gas valve to the open position.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to receive the temperature setting from a remote controller. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the remote controller is a smartphone in wireless communication with the controller. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature setting is determined based on user input generated by a touchscreen display of the hybrid water heater. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the heat pump system comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve.