US 12,117,203 B2
Hybrid water heater with adaptive temperature control
Michael Scott Knoblett, Newnan, GA (US); and Scott Gilman Humphrey, Newnan, GA (US)
Assigned to Rinnai America Corporation, Peachtree City, GA (US)
Filed by Rinnai America Corporation, Peachtree City, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/073,796.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/285,529, filed on Dec. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0175736 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. F24H 15/175 (2022.01); F24H 1/12 (2022.01); F24H 15/223 (2022.01); F24H 15/335 (2022.01)
CPC F24H 15/175 (2022.01) [F24H 1/122 (2013.01); F24H 15/223 (2022.01); F24H 15/335 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for heating water, the system comprising:
a storage tank having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion comprising a first inlet for receiving water from a source and the upper portion comprising a first outlet for providing hot water to a building system;
a first temperature sensor positioned in the upper portion of the storage tank;
a tankless heater for producing heated water and providing the heated water to the upper portion of the storage tank, the tankless heater comprising a second outlet for fluidly coupling the tankless heater to the storage tank; and
a controller configured to:
determine a target output temperature range for the tankless heater based on a temperature setpoint, the target output temperature range comprising a lower threshold that is less than the temperature setpoint and an upper threshold that is greater than the temperature setpoint;
measure a temperature of the hot water stored in the upper portion of the storage tank using the first temperature sensor;
determine whether the measured temperature of the hot water is less than a first minimum temperature;
generate an adjusted target output temperature range for the tankless heater based on a determination that the measured temperature is less than the first minimum temperature by increasing a value of both the lower threshold and the upper threshold; and
control the tankless heater to produce the heated water according to the adjusted target output temperature range.