FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to water heaters, and more particularly to systems, methods, and devices for determining, in real time, a current heated water supply in a storage-type water heater.

BACKGROUND

Water heaters are generally used to provide a supply of hot water and can be used in a number of different residential, commercial, and industrial applications. A water heater can supply heated water to a number of different processes. For example, a water heater in a residential dwelling can be used for an automatic clothes washer, an automatic dishwasher, one or more showers, and one or more sink faucets. Every storage-type water heater has a limited capacity, and so when one or more processes use hot water at one time, there may be limited or no heated water available from the storage-type water heater until the water heater has sufficient time to heat more water. Systems and methods to integrate such systems in a user-friendly manner are desirable.

SUMMARY

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure relates to a water heating system. The water heating system can include a water heater that includes a tank, an inlet line, and an outlet line, where the inlet line provides unheated water to the tank, and where the outlet line draws heated water from the tank. The water heating system can also include a first temperature sensor disposed toward a top end of the tank, where the first temperature sensor measures a first temperature of water toward the top end of the tank. The water heating system can further include a second temperature sensor disposed toward a bottom end of the tank, where the second temperature sensor measures a second temperature of the water toward the bottom end of the tank. The water heating system can also include a controller communicably coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, where the controller determines an amount of heated water in the tank based on one or more algorithms and measurements made by the first temperature sensor toward the top end of the tank and the second temperature sensor toward the bottom end of the tank. The one or more algorithms can be used to solve for at least one calculated temperature for at least one point between a first location of the first temperature sensor and a second location of the second temperature sensor along a height of the tank, where the amount of heated water in the tank is determined using the at least one calculated temperature.

In another aspect, the disclosure can generally relate to a water heater controller that includes a processor. The processor can be configured to communicate with a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor to receive a plurality of measurements associated with heated water within a tank of a water heater, where the first temperature sensor is disposed toward a top end of the tank and measures a first temperature of water toward the top end of the tank, and where the second temperature sensor is disposed toward a bottom end of the tank and measures a second temperature of water toward the bottom end of the tank. The processor can also be configured to determine, using the plurality of measurements and one or more algorithms, how much heated water is currently available within the tank of the water heater. The one or more algorithms can be used to solve for at least one calculated temperature at a plurality of points between a first location of the first temperature sensor and a second location of the second temperature sensor along a height of the tank, where the amount of heated water in the tank is determined using the at least one calculated temperature.

Also disclosed herein are methods of using the same.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure are described in the Detailed Description below and the accompanying figures. Other aspects and features of examples of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the following description of specific, examples of the present disclosure in concert with the figures. While features of the present disclosure may be discussed relative to certain examples and figures, all examples of the present disclosure can include one or more of the features discussed herein. Further, while one or more examples may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used with the various examples of the disclosure discussed herein. In similar fashion, while examples may be discussed below as device, system, or method examples, it is to be understood that such examples can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure.

