U.S. patent application number 16/350038 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-19 for system and method for controlling gas consumption by gas-fired water heaters.
The applicant listed for this patent is Claude Lesage. Invention is credited to Claude Lesage.
Application Number | 20200088444 16/350038 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69773788 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-19 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200088444 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lesage; Claude |
March 19, 2020 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GAS CONSUMPTION BY GAS-FIRED
WATER HEATERS
Abstract
A system and a method is described for remotely controlling gas
consumption by a power vented gas-fired water heater to reduce
consumption of gas by a consumer connected to a gas distribution
bank network of a gas provider during overload periods where gas
demand is at a peak. The system comprises a consumer controller in
communication with the gas provider whereby the controller can
operate a modulating gas control valve either directly or through
the control of the fan speed of a power vented blower to reduce the
supply of gas to the burner of the gas-fired water heater when
asked by the provider to do so. Temperature sensors are associated
with the water holding tank of the gas-fired water heater to feed
water temperature signals to a computer of the controller whereby
to enable the controller to execute informed corrective action for
the reduction in gas consumption by regulating the gas control
valve to reduce the supply of gas to the burner of the water
heater.
Inventors: |
Lesage; Claude;
(Pointe-Claire, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lesage; Claude |
Pointe-Claire |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
69773788 |
Appl. No.: |
16/350038 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 19/1048 20130101;
F24H 1/205 20130101; F23K 5/007 20130101; F24H 9/2035 20130101;
F23K 2900/05001 20130101; F23K 2900/05002 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24H 9/20 20060101
F24H009/20; F24H 1/20 20060101 F24H001/20; F23K 5/00 20060101
F23K005/00 |
Claims
1. A system for controlling gas consumption of a powered vented
gas-fired water heater, said system comprising a water holding tank
having a combustion chamber at a lower end thereof, a gas burner in
said combustion chamber, a flue having a lower end in communication
with said combustion chamber and a top end in communication with a
power venting blower secured exteriorly of said water holding tank,
an adjustable modulating gas valve secured between said gas burner
and a gas supply conduit, at least one temperature probe secured at
a predetermined location to a side wall of said water holding tank
for sensing water temperature in said water holding tank at said
predetermined location, a controller having a computer with a
memory for storing and executing functions for said controller to
control the operation of said adjustable modulating gas valve, said
controller receiving water temperature signals from said
temperature probe for continuous monitoring of the temperature of
heated water in said water holding tank at said predetermined
location, said gas conduit being connected to a gas provider
distribution bank network of gas consumers, and a communication
link between said controller and said gas provider for the
communication of control signals by said gas provider for causing
said controller to perform command signal functions from said gas
provider to reduce, resume or shut-off the gas supply to said
burner by the operation of said gas modulating valve.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blower is secured
on a top wall of an outer housing of said water holding tank and
connected to ducting leading to the exterior of a building in which
said gas-fired water heater is located.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said modulating gas
valve is provided with a gas regulator mechanism operable to reduce
or increase the gas supply to said burner to reduce or increase the
heat generated by said burner.
4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said controller upon
receiving control signals from said gas provider to reduce the
supply of gas to said burner will cause one of (i) operate the fan
speed of said power venting blower which simultaneously causes said
blower to operate said gas regulator mechanism to reduce said gas
supply to said burner, and (ii) operate said gas regulator
mechanism to reduce said gas supply to said burner and
simultaneously causes said fan speed to reduce due to a reduction
in temperature of combustible gases flowing through said flue.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are two or more
of said temperature probes secured at different predetermined
locations along said side wall of said water holding tank.
6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein there are a plurality
of said temperature probes secured at different spaced-apart
locations adjacent said side wall of said water holding tank to
detect the temperature of said side wall at said spaced-apart
locations to generate a plurality of said temperature signals to
store in said memory of said computer an actual temperature profile
representative of the water temperature in said water holding tank
for comparison with a reference water temperature profile stored in
said memory to enable said computer to make a decision of an
operational function to operate said gas regulator mechanism or
not.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said communication link
is a wireless communication link through the internet using a
remote control device, such as a smart phone, tablet, desktop
computer, laptop, telephone, cell phone or other suitable
communication devices that can communicate through the internet by
the use of wireless technologies.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller is in
communication with a subscriber module to display on said module
information representative of a command signal received from said
gas provider, said module being provided with input means to permit
said subscriber to override said command signal function preventing
said controller to reduce the gas supply to said burner.
9. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said command signal
functions for reduce said gas supply to said burner are transmitted
during daily peak consumption time periods if there is an excess
demand for gas by said consumers connected to said distribution
bank network.
10. A method of controlling gas consumption of a power vented gas
fired water heater to prevent overload conditions on a gas
distribution bank network of a gas provider, said method comprising
the steps of: i) communicating a control signal by said gas
provider to a controller of a power vented gas-fire water heater of
gas consumers of said gas distribution bank network of said gas
provider for said controller to operate a modulating gas supply
valve controlling a burner mounted in a combustion chamber of a
water holding tank of said gas-fired water heater to reduce gas
supply to said burner during a predetermined time period, and
wherein a power venting blower is secured to a top end of a flue in
communication with said combustion chamber, ii) monitoring water
temperature in said water holding tank at one or more predetermined
locations by said controller, said controller having a computer
provided with a memory for storing and executing functions by said
controller to control said modulating gas supply valve, and iii)
automatically reducing the gas supply to said burner by said
controller during said predetermined time period if said water
temperature within said water holding tank is below a desired water
temperature profile stored in a memory of said computer of said
controller.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said step (i)
comprises said controller operating a gas regulator mechanism of
said modulating gas supply valve to reduce gas supply to said
burner and thereby reduce the temperature of exhaust combustion gas
in the flue causing said power venting blower to reduce the speed
of a fan associated therewith in a proportional amount to the
reduction of said exhaust combustion gas temperature.
12. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said step (i)
comprises said controller operating a power vented blower fan of
said power vented blower to reduce the speed of said fan, said
power vented blower controlling a gas regulator mechanism of said
modulating gas supply valve to reduce the supply of gas to said
burner in a proportional amount to the reduced fan speed.
13. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein in step (i) said
control signal is transmitted during daily peak consumption time
periods if there is an excess demand for gas by said consumers of
said distribution bank.
14. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said step (ii)
comprises monitoring water temperature in said water holding tank
at a plurality of spaced-apart locations adjacent a side wall of
said water holding tank to detect the temperature of said side wall
at said spaced-apart locations to generate a plurality of said
temperature signals to said computer for storage in said memory to
develop an actual temperature profile of water temperature in said
tank at said predetermined locations, said temperature signals of
said side wall being representative of actual temperature of water
inside said water holding tank at said spaced-apart locations.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein there is further
provided initially storing in said memory a reference water
temperature profile representative of a desirable hot water profile
as well as a reduced temperature profile for comparison with said
actual temperature profile whereby to enable said controller to
execute the operation of said gas regulator mechanism or not.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein there is further
provided the step of said controller of said gas consumer
communicating the status of its power vented gas-fired water heater
to said gas provider to permit said gas provider to make an inform
decision if gas supplied to other gas consuming appliances of said
consumer connected to said gas distribution bank should be reduced
or shut down.
17. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said step (i) of
communicating is a wireless communication link through the internet
using a remote control device, such as a smart phone, tablet,
desktop computer, laptop, telephone, cell phone or other suitable
communication devices that can communicate through the internet by
the use of wireless technologies.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method of
remotely controlling gas consumption of power vented gas-fired
water heaters during an overload condition in a gas distribution
bank of a gas provider containing a plurality of consumer
loads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the popularity of natural gas being on the rise due to
high costs of electricity, consumers are resorting to a conversion
of home appliances which are operated by gas energy. For example, a
home can be equipped with gas stoves, gas clothes dryer, gas
furnaces, gas water heaters, gas fireplaces and with many of these
appliances being equipped with safety devices to automatically cut
off gas supply when the burner temperature is too high or when the
burner flame becomes extinct due to burner malfunction or other
reasons. Like the electrical grid, with many of such appliances
being used in homes connected to a gas distribution bank of a gas
supplier, overload conditions created by excessive demand during
daily peak demand times can occur causing a gas pressure reduction
on the gas distribution bank and resulting in malfunctions of
certain important gas-fired appliances such as a gas stove for
cooking or gas furnace during cold weather conditions.
[0003] Many of the gas appliances have burner systems that are not
entirely controllable and therefore are not capable of providing
efficient combustion across an entire operating range of an
appliance but only at selected air and gas flow speed, such as low,
medium and high. They cannot be efficiently regulated throughout an
operating range from low to high.
[0004] It is therefore desirable to control the load on a gas
distribution bank of a gas provider to prevent such inconveniences
to the gas consumers during peak demand times when certain
gas-fired appliances are required to work efficiently, such as for
example the use of a stove to permit the cooking of meals or the
operation of a gas furnace during very cold weather conditions and
with substantially no inconvenience to the consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a system
and a method for automatically controlling gas consumption of power
vented gas-fired water heaters during peak demand daily time
periods to reduce the gas demand load on a gas distribution bank of
a gas provider.
[0006] It is a further feature of the present invention to
automatically monitor the water temperature in the water holding
tank of a gas-fired power vented water heater to automatically
determine if the gas supply to its burner can be reduced or
shut-down for a time period to reduce the gas demand load on a gas
distribution bank of a gas provider.
[0007] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
system and method for remotely controlling the operation of a power
vented gas-fired water heater by a gas provider during peak demand
daily periods and when necessary to do so to reduce the gas demand
load on a gas distribution bank of the gas provider without
inconvenience to its consumers.
[0008] According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the
present invention provides a system for controlling gas consumption
of a powered vented gas-fire water heater. The system comprises a
water holding tank having a combustion chamber at a lower end
thereof. A gas burner is located in the combustion chamber. A flue
has a lower end secured for communication with the combustion
chamber and a top end in communication with a power venting blower
secured exteriorly of the water holding tank. An adjustable
modulating gas valve is secured between the gas burner and a gas
supply conduit. At least one temperature probe is secured at a
predetermined location to a side wall of the water holding tank for
sensing water temperature in the water holding tank at the
predetermined location. A controller is provided and has a computer
with a memory for storing and executing functions for the
controller to control the operation of the adjustable modulating
gas valve. The controller receives water temperature signals from
the temperature probe for continuous monitoring of the temperature
of heated water in the water holding tank at the predetermined
location. The gas conduit is connected to a gas provider
distribution bank network of gas consumers. A communication link is
provided between the controller and the gas provider for the
communication of control signals by the gas provider for causing
the controller to perform command signal functions from the gas
provider to reduce, resume or shut-off the gas supply to the burner
by the operation of the modulating valve.
[0009] According to another broad aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method of controlling gas consumption of a
power vented gas fired water heater to prevent overload conditions
on a gas distribution bank of a gas provider. The method comprising
the following steps of:
i) communicating a control signal by the gas provider to a
controller of a power vented gas-fire water heater of gas consumers
connected to the gas distribution bank network of the gas provider
for the controller to operate a modulating gas supply valve
controlling a burner mounted in a combustion chamber of a water
holding tank of the gas-fired water heater to reduce gas supply to
the burner during a predetermined time period, and wherein a power
venting blower is secured to a top end of a flue in communication
with the combustion chamber, ii) monitoring water temperature in
the water holding tank at one or more predetermined locations by
the controller, the controller having a computer provided with a
memory for storing and executing functions by the controller to
control the modulating gas supply valve, and iii) automatically
reducing the gas supply to the burner by the controller during the
predetermined time period if the water temperature within the water
holding tank is below a desired water temperature profile stored in
a memory of the computer of the controller.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the example of the preferred embodiment
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
system for controlling gas consumption of a powered vented
gas-fired water heater of a consumer connected to a gas
distribution bank network of a gas provider, and
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the logic sequence of
the operation of the system illustrated in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown generally at 10
the system of the present invention and the logic of the operation
10' for controlling gas consumption of a powered vented gas-fired
water heater 13 of a consumer connected to a gas distribution bank
network 11 of a gas provider 12. As illustrated, the water heater
13 has a water holding tank 14 under which is formed a combustion
chamber 15. A burner 25 is mounted in the combustion chamber 15 to
heat the water 18 in the water holding tank 14. A flue pipe 16 is
secured to the top wall 17 of the combustion chamber 15 and extends
vertically and central through the water holding tank 14 in
communication with water 18 in the tank whereby the flue is in
contact with the water to heat the water in the tank. The water
holding tank 14 is surrounded by insulation 19 and contained within
an outer casing 20 spaced from the water holding tank wall.
[0014] A power vented blower 21 is secured to the top end 16' of
the flue pipe 16 on the top wall 20' of the outer casing 20 for
venting the products of combustion to the outside ambient air
through ducting 22 within a building in which the gas-fired water
heater is located. An adjustable modulating gas valve 23 is secured
to a domestic gas line 24 connected to the gas supply conduit 11'
of the gas distribution bank network 11, and connected to the
burner 25. At least one temperature probe 26, herein four or more
probes 26, are connected to the side wall 27 of the water holding
tank 14 at predetermined spaced locations for sensing the tank wall
temperature which is substantially the same as the water
temperature inside the water holding tank 14 adjacent to the probe.
On the other hand, the probes may extend within the tank interior
to directly sense water temperature. The probes 26 are connected to
the controller 28 to provide to the computer 29 temperature signals
for the continuous monitoring of the temperature of heated water 18
in the water holding tank 14 at the predetermined locations.
[0015] The controller 28 is provided with a computer 29 equipped
with a memory 30 in which is stored functions to executed
programmed functions to operate the adjustable modulating gas valve
23. The controller 28 can also operate a blower fan 31 associated
with the power vented blower 21 to adjust the speed of the blower
fan which in turn automatically results in an adjustment to the
modulating gas valve 23 by the blower 21. As herein shown, the
controller 28 is in communication with a transceiver 32 to
establish a communication link, herein through the internet 33,
with the remote gas provider 12 which is equipped with a computer
system to communicate control signals to the controller 32 to
perform command signal functions to reduce, resume or shut-off gas
supply to the burner 25 by the operation of the modulating gas
valve 23.
[0016] The modulating gas valve 23 is of a type known in the art
and suitable for the operation of the present invention. These
modulating gas valves are provided with a regulator mechanism 23'
through which gas flow is regulated. The controller 28 operates the
regulator mechanism 23' to reduce or increase the gas supply to the
burner 25 to reduce or increase the heat generated by the burner
25. For example, the gas provider can call for a reduction of gas
supply to all gas-fired water heaters 13 connected to its gas
supply conduit 11' by 20% or more depending on the load reduction
that is deemed desirable for its gas distribution bank 11.
[0017] As mentioned above, the controller 28 can cause a reduction
of the gas supply to the burner 25 by directly operating the gas
regulator 23' of the modulating gas valve 23 or by reducing the
speed of the blower fan 31 of the power vented blower 21. If the
modulating gas valve 23 is operated by the controller to reduce the
supply of gas to the burner 25, the temperature in the combustion
chamber and of the combustion gases vented through the flue pipe is
reduced and this temperature reduction is sensed by the blower 21
which automatically adjusts its fan speed for the exhaust of the
reduced pressure of the combustion gases. On the other hand, if the
controller 28 reduces the fan speed of the blower fan 31, the
blower will sense a temperature increase of the combustion gases
and adjust the modulating gas valve 23 to reduce the gas supply.
Accordingly, gas consumption can be reduced by either controlling
the modulating gas valve 23 or controlling the blower fan 31 of the
power venting blower 21.
[0018] As above mentioned, the temperature sensing probes 26 feed
temperature signals to the controller computer 29 which is
programmed to store in its memory 30 an actual temperature profile
representative of the water temperature in the water holding tank
for comparison with a desired reference water temperature profile
stored in its memory to enable the computer to make a decision of
an operational function to operate the gas regulator of the
modulating gas valve or the blower fan or none. The reference
temperature profile stored in the memory of the computer is the
optimum desired water temperature profile of the gas-fired water
heater. The memory may also have stored therein a reduced water
temperature profile indicative of reduced water temperature
suitable for use by the consumer during reception of a command
signal from the provider to reduce consumption. If the water
temperature in the tank is within the reduced profile, then the
controller will shut-off the gas supply to the burner until the
temperature of the water falls below the reduced profile and then
the controller will operate the modulating valve to maintain the
reduced gas supply mode until it receives a command signal from the
gas provider 12 to resume normal operation.
[0019] It is pointed out that the communication link between the
controller 28 and the gas provider 12 is herein illustrated as a
wireless communication link but could also be provided through a
variety of different communication means, such as a telephone
communication link. Therefore, the present invention is not limited
to the illustrated wireless communication. Also, the communication
through the internet can be done through various types on wireless
communication software and using remote control devices, such as a
smart phone, a tablet, desktop computer 34 as illustrated, a laptop
computer or a cell phone 34' also herein illustrated or other
suitable communication devices that can communicate through the
internet by the use of wireless technologies.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 incorporates a subscriber
module 35 conveniently mounted to provide a visual display to
display operational conditions of the system including the status
of any command signal currently in operation by the system. The
module 25 is also provided with inputting means, such as a touch
switch 36, to permit the subscriber to override the command signal
function of the provider and thereby preventing the reduction of
its gas supply to the gas-fired burner of the water heater should
the consumer not want a reduction in the water temperature of its
water heater during a gas supply overload condition which usually
occurs during daily peak consumption time periods.
[0021] The method of operation of the present invention will now be
briefly described having above described to construction and
interrelationship of the component parts of the system. In summary,
the method comprises communicating a control signal by a gas
provider 12 to a controller 28 of a power vented gas-fire water
heater 13 of gas consumers of a gas distribution bank network 11 of
the gas provider to cause the controller 28 to operate a modulating
gas supply valve 23 controlling a burner 25 mounted in a combustion
chamber 15 of a water holding tank 14 of the gas-fired water heater
to reduce gas supply to the burner during a predetermined time
period. Temperature sensors 26 monitor water temperature in said
water holding tank 14 at one or more predetermined locations of the
tank. The controller 28 is provided with a computer 29 provided
with a memory 30 for storing and executing functions by the
controller to control the modulating gas supply valve. The gas
supply to the burner is controlled during the predetermined time
period if the water temperature within the water holding tank is
below a water temperature profile stored in the memory of the
computer of the controller.
[0022] As mentioned above, the controller 28 can operate the gas
regulator mechanism 23' of the modulating gas supply valve 23 to
reduce gas supply to the burner and thereby reduce the temperature
of exhaust combustion gas in the flue causing the power venting
blower to reduce the speed of a fan associated therewith in a
proportional amount to the reduction of the temperature of the
combustion gases. On the other hand, the controller 28 can operate
the blower fan 31 of the power vented blower 21 to reduce the speed
of the fan which in turn causes the blower to adjust the modulating
gas valve 23 to reduce gas supply to the burner. Also, these
control command signals are usually transmitted during daily peak
consumption time periods when there is the likely hood of an excess
demand for gas by the consumers branched to the gas line of a
distribution bank of the gas supplier or during emergency
conditions.
[0023] The purpose of the temperature probes 26 is to monitor water
temperature in the water holding tank at a plurality of
spaced-apart locations adjacent the side wall 27 of the water
holding tank 14 to detect the temperature of the side wall at the
spaced-apart locations to generate a plurality of the temperature
signals to the computer for storage in its memory to develop an
actual temperature profile of water temperature in the tank. The
temperature values detected on the side wall of the tank are
representative of actual temperature of water inside the water
holding tank at the spaced-apart locations. See U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/544,994 relating to Conduit for the
Removable Positioning of Temperature Sensors in a Water Heater and
Method, and for which a patent is granted.
[0024] The method also comprises initially storing in the memory 30
of the computer 29 a reference water temperature profile
representative of a desirable hot water profile of the water heater
for comparison with the actual temperature profile whereby to
enable the computer to take decisions regarding the control of the
operation of the gas regulator mechanism or not. The controller 28
also communicates to the provider 12 through the transceiver 32 the
status of its power vented gas-fired water heater to permit the gas
provider to make an informed decision if gas supplied to other gas
consuming appliances of the consumer connected to the gas
distribution bank 11 should be shut down.
[0025] It is within the ambit of the present invention to encompass
all obvious modifications of the example of the preferred
embodiment described herein provided such modifications fall within
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *