Water heater appliance and a method for operating the same

摘要

A water heater appliance and a method for operating the same are provided. The method includes receiving a first temperature measurement from a temperature sensor of the water heater appliance, receiving a second temperature measurement from the temperature sensor of the water heater appliance, and establishing if water is flowing through a conduit of the water heater appliance based at least in part on the first and second temperature measurements.

主权项

1. A method for operating a water heater appliance, the water heater appliance having a tank and a heating element for heating water within the tank, the water heater appliance also having a cold water conduit for directing a flow of water into the tank and a hot water conduit for directing water out of the tank, the water heater appliance further having a mixing valve, the mixing valve configured for regulating a temperature of water within the hot water conduit by selectively directing a flow of relatively cool water into the hot water conduit, the water heater appliance also having a temperature sensor positioned downstream of the mixing valve for measuring a temperature of water within the hot water conduit, the method comprising:
setting the mixing valve of the water heater appliance to a default position when water is not flowing through the hot water conduit of the water heater appliance; receiving a first temperature measurement from the temperature sensor of the water heater appliance when water is not flowing through the hot water conduit of the water heater appliance; receiving a second temperature measurement from the temperature sensor of the water heater appliance after said step of receiving the first temperature measurement; determining whether a rate of change of the temperature of water within the hot water conduit is greater than a predetermined value based at least in part on the first and second temperature measurements; and establishing that water is flowing through the hot water conduit of the water heater appliance at said step of receiving the second temperature measurement if the rate of change of the temperature of water within the hot water conduit is greater than the predetermined value at said step of determining whether the rate of change of the temperature of water within the hot water conduit is greater than the predetermined value.