MULTI-TANK WATER HEATER SYSTEMS

摘要

A water heater system including two or more water storage tanks plumbed in series, parallel or a combination thereof and methods of controlling said water heater systems. The water heater systems may include one or more mixing valves and one or more temperature sensors for providing water at a desired temperature.

主权项

1. A water heater system for providing heated water to a hot water supply line of a building that distributes the heated water throughout the building, the water heater system comprising:
a first water storage tank having a first water inlet and a first water outlet, the first water storage tank controlled to a first setpoint temperature; a second water storage tank having a second water inlet and a second water outlet, the second water storage tank controlled to a second setpoint temperature; a water line fluidly connecting the first water outlet to the second water inlet for transporting water from the first water storage tank to the second water storage tank; a mixing valve having a first inlet fluidly coupled to the second water outlet downstream of the second water storage tank, the mixing valve being controllable via a communications interface; a cold water supply line in fluid communication with a second inlet of the mixing valve; a mixed water outlet fluidly coupled to an outlet of the mixing valve, the mixed water outlet configured to be plumbed to the hot water supply line of the building; a controller for controlling the mixing valve via the communications interface; wherein the controller is further configured to monitor hot water usage from the second water storage tank to develop a hot water usage schedule of expected hot water demand; and wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the first setpoint temperature of the first water storage tank in accordance with the hot water usage schedule.