Renewable energy hot water heating elements

摘要

Provided herein is a supplemental heating element that may be inserted into a tank of a residential or commercial hot water heater. A collar of the supplemental heating element engages a threaded inlet or outlet of the hot water heater and provides a flow path into or out of the hot water heater while the supplement element is suspended within a tank of the hot water heater.

主权项

1. A hot water heating system, comprising:
a hot water heater having:
a storage tank with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;a gas or electric heating source adapted to heat water within the storage tank; a heating device having:
a body having a hollow interior extending between first and second open ends wherein a first set of threads proximate to said first open end are in threaded engagement with a threaded orifice of said fluid inlet or said fluid outlet of said storage tank of said hot water heater, wherein said body is affixed outside of said storage tank and a flow path extends through the hollow interior of the body; an electrical heating element connected to said body, wherein at least a portion of the electrical heating element is disposed outside of the hollow interior of the body and is disposed within an interior of said storage tank; and electrical leads extending from said electrical heating element and passing through a sidewall of said body between said first and second open ends of said body, wherein at least one of said electrical heating element and said electrical leads extend through said first open end of said body; and a photovoltaic (PV) power source connected to said electrical leads.