Water heater and method of operating a waterheater

Abstract

A water heater having of a tank defining a storage space for water. A heat source in a combustion chamber is operable to heat water in the storage space and has a first state and a heating state. A flue is part of a gas flow passage through which combustion gases are communicated towards a first location. A flue damper has closed and open states. A powered device in an on state induces flow of combustion gases from the combustion chamber towards the first location. A control is configured to: a) process a user input identifying a target output water temperature and generate a call for heat; and b) in response thereto i) cause the powered device to change from its first state; ii) cause the flue damper to change from its closed state towards its open state; and iii) cause the heat source to change from its first state into its heating state.

1 . A water heater comprising:
 a tank defining a storage space for water, the tank having an inlet for communicating water from a supply to the storage space and an outlet through which water heated in the storage space is directed towards a point of use;   a combustion chamber;   a heat source in the combustion chamber operable to heat water in the storage space,   the heat source having a first state and a heating state;   a flue that is part of a gas flow passage through which combustion gases from the combustion chamber are communicated towards a first location;   a flue damper having closed and open states,   the flue damper: a) in the closed state obstructing communication of combustion gases through the gas flow passage from the combustion chamber to the first location; and b) in the open state permitting substantially unobstructed communication of combustion gases through the gas flow passage from the combustion chamber to the first location;   a powered device that has a first state and an on state and in the on state induces flow of combustion gases from the combustion chamber towards the first location; and   a control for coordinating operation of the heat source, the flue damper and the powered device,   the control configured to: a) process a user input identifying a target output water temperature and generate a call for heat with the water in the storage space below a first predetermined temperature; and b) process the call for heat and in response thereto i) cause the powered device to change from its first state into its on state; ii) cause the flue damper to change from its closed state towards its open state; and iii) cause the heat source to change from its first state into its heating state.   
   
   
       2 . The water heater according to  claim 1  wherein the control is configured so that the heat source is caused to be changed from its first state into its heating state upon the flue damper realizing its open state. 
   
   
       3 . The water heater according to  claim 2  wherein the control comprises a first switch that has first and second states and the first switch is changed from its first state into its second state as an incident of the flue damper realizing its open state, thereby causing the heat source to be changed from its first state into its heating state. 
   
   
       4 . The water heater according to  claim 2  wherein the control comprises a second switch that has first and second states and as an incident of the powered device changing from its first state into its on state the second switch is changed from its first state into its second state, thereby causing the heat source to change from its first state into its heating state. 
   
   
       5 . The water heater according to  claim 3  wherein the control comprises a second switch that has first and second states and as an incident of the powered device changing from its first state into its on state the second switch is changed from its first state into its second state, thereby causing the heat source to change from its first state into its heating state. 
   
   
       6 . The water heater according to  claim 1  wherein the control is configured so that upon water in the storage space realizing a second predetermined temperature correlated to the target output water temperature, the control causes: a) the heat source to be changed from its heating state; b) the flue damper to be changed from its open state; and c) the powered device to be changed from its on state. 
   
   
       7 . The water heater according to  claim 1  wherein the control is configured so that upon the water in the storage space realizing a second predetermined temperature correlated to the target output water temperature, the control causes: a) the heat source to be changed from its heating state into its first state, that is an off state; b) the flue damper to be changed from its open state into its closed state; and c) the powered device to be changed from its on state into its first state, that is an off state. 
   
   
       8 . The water heater according to  claim 1  wherein the flue damper comprises at least one element that resides in the flow passage and repositions within the flow passage as the flue damper changes between its closed and open states. 
   
   
       9 . The water heater according to  claim 1  wherein the flue damper comprises at least one element that repositions between within and outside of the flow passage as the flue damper changes between its closed and open states. 
   
   
       10 . The water heater according to  claim 4  wherein the powered device comprises a bladed element that is rotatable around a first axis and the second switch is changed from its first state into its second state in response to one of: a) pressure generated through rotation of the bladed element; and b) a change in speed of rotation of the bladed element around the first axis. 
   
   
       11 . The water heater according to  claim 1  wherein the flow passage is upstream of the powered device so that combustion gases from the combustion chamber flow past the flue damper and thereafter to the powered device. 
   
   
       12 . The water heater according to  claim 1  wherein the flow passage is bounded by a vertically extending conduit section at which the flue damper and powered device are provided. 
   
   
       13 . The water heater according to  claim 12  wherein the vertically extending conduit section is located directly above the storage space. 
   
   
       14 . A method of operating a water heater comprising: a tank defining a storage space for water and having an inlet and an outlet; a combustion chamber; a heat source having a first state and a heating state; a flue that is part of a gas flow passage; a flue damper having closed and open states; a powered device having a first state and an on state; and a control, the method comprising the steps of:
 inputting a target output water temperature through the control and in response thereto causing:   a) the powered device to be placed in its on state to induce flow through the gas flow passage away from the water heater towards a first location;   b) the flue damper to be changed from its closed state towards its open state; and   c) the heat source to be placed in its heating state to raise the temperature of the water in the storage space to a predetermined temperature correlated to the target output water temperature.   
   
   
       15 . The method of operating a water heater according to  claim 14  whereupon after water in the storage is heated to the predetermined temperature, the method includes the steps of causing: a) the heat source to be changed from its heating state into its first state; b) the powered device to be changed from its on state into its first state; and c) the flue damper to be changed from its open state into its closed state. 
   
   
       16 . The method of operating a water heater according to  claim 14  wherein the heat source in its operating state generates combustion gases and the method further comprises the step of causing the combustion gases to be directed past the flue damper and thereafter to the powered device. 
   
   
       17 . The method of operating a water heater according to  claim 14  wherein the step of causing the heat source to be placed in its heating state comprises causing the heat source to be placed in its heating state after causing the powered device to be placed in its on state and the flue damper to be moved from its closed state towards its open state. 
   
   
       18 . The method of operating a water heater according to  claim 14  wherein the first state of the heat source is an off state and the first state of the powered device is an off state. 
   
   
       19 . The method of operating a water heater according to  claim 14  wherein the powered device comprises a bladed element that rotates within the gas flow passage. 
   
   
       20 . The method of operating a water heater according to  claim 14  wherein the flow passage is bounded by a vertically extending conduit section at which the flue damper and powered device are provided.