초록 ▼

A compartmentalized storage tank-type electric liquid heater includes a housing with upper and lower portions. A fluid inlet is defined in the lower portion and a fluid outlet is defined in the upper portion. A plurality of panels or other partitioning structures are mounted within the housing to di

A compartmentalized storage tank-type electric liquid heater includes a housing with upper and lower portions. A fluid inlet is defined in the lower portion and a fluid outlet is defined in the upper portion. A plurality of panels or other partitioning structures are mounted within the housing to divide the interior into a plurality of subcompartments. A first subcompartment includes a cold water inlet and a final subcompartment includes a hot water outlet. The first and final subcompartments are in fluid communication with a plurality of intermediate subcompartments. All or most subcompartments include a heating element. In one embodiment of the invention, the heating elements in the first and final subcompartments are electrically connected to a first temperature control and the heating elements in the intermediate subcompartments are electrically connected to a second temperature control. Thermostatic controls are arranged to shift energy from one or more upstream compartments to downstream compartments during water usage to achieve a portion of the storage tank capacity at design delivery temperature at a minimum of electrical energy input. When water flow stops, the heating elements in the later compartments stay energized for a period of time until the water reaches a predetermined temperature and then the elements in one or more later (downstream) compartments are at least partially deenergized to shift energy to one or more upstream compartments.

대표청구항 ▼

A compartmentalized, storage-tank-type, electric heater for heating liquids, having a reduced recovery time, comprising: a housing; a plurality of partition panels wholly disposed within the housing to form a plurality of compartments, each partition having flow passage means for fluid communication

A compartmentalized, storage-tank-type, electric heater for heating liquids, having a reduced recovery time, comprising: a housing; a plurality of partition panels wholly disposed within the housing to form a plurality of compartments, each partition having flow passage means for fluid communication with only the immediately adjacent compartment(s); said flow passage means disposed wholly within the housing; a fluid inlet in a first upstream compartment disposed within the housing; a fluid outlet in a final downstream compartment disposed within the housing; heating means in the housing for heating fluid in at least some of the compartments; automatic thermostatic control(s) to maintain the fluid temperature; and, said automatic thermostatic control(s) electrically wired to shift heating output from at least one compartment to at least one other compartment, said automatic thermostatic control(s) progressively shifting heating output from upstream compartments to downstream compartments during withdrawal of fluid and progressively shifting heating output from downstream compartments to upstream compartments when fluid withdrawal stops so that all of the heating means are not energized simultaneously thereby limiting maximum energy usage to a preselected amount.