| 摘要 |
COMPARTMENTALIZED ELECTRIC LIQUID HEATER 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. |
