Water Heating System

Abstract

A method, including: receiving an instruction from a user of a hot water tank ( 24 ) indicating a target temperature and a duration of a supply of water. In response to receiving the instruction, water at multiple different temperatures within the hot water tank is mixed so as to form mixed water in the tank. The method includes measuring an actual temperature of the mixed water in order to make a determination of whether the mixed water will satisfy the instruction. The method also includes activating a heater ( 120 ) to heat the mixed water responsively to the determination.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving an instruction from a user of a hot water tank indicating a target temperature and a duration of a supply of water;   in response to the instruction, mixing water at multiple different temperatures within the hot water tank so as to form mixed water therein;   measuring an actual temperature of the mixed water in order to make a determination of whether the mixed water will satisfy the instruction; and   activating a heater to heat the mixed water responsively to the determination.   
     
     
         2 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus, comprising:
 a hot water tank;   a first vertical array of heaters deployed within the hot water tank;   a second vertical array of temperature sensors deployed within the hot water tank; and   a control unit which is configured:
 to receive an instruction from a user of the hot water tank indicating a requirement of a supply of water, 
   to receive signals from the temperature sensors representative of respective temperatures thereof, and
 to activate at least one of the heaters in response to the signals and the requirement. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the first vertical array of heaters are located according to a first vertical distribution and wherein the second vertical array of sensors are located according to a second vertical distribution. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the second vertical distribution is different from the first vertical distribution. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to evaluating a heat loss factor of a temperature drop from the hot water tank to a water outlet supplying the user. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to measuring a temperature of a cold water supply to the user. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to receiving a positive response to a query to the user whether water within the hot water tank is to be heated. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the instruction is indicative of a temperature and a volume of the supply of water. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to analyzing sequentially heat contents of respective sections of the tank defined by the first vertical array. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the first vertical array defines respective sections of the tank, and wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to maintaining that no given section is heated to a first temperature that is higher than a second temperature of a further section above the given section. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein receiving the instruction comprises determining that a maximum heat capacity of water in the tank is insufficient for satisfying the instruction, and in response determining a length of time required to heat water entering the tank. 
     
     
         22 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method, comprising:
 deploying a first vertical array of heaters within a hot water tank;   deploying a second vertical array of temperature sensors within the hot water tank; and   configuring a control unit:
 to receive an instruction from a user of the hot water tank indicating a requirement of a supply of water, 
 to receive signals from the temperature sensors representative of respective temperatures thereof, and 
   to activate at least one of the heaters in response to the signals and the requirement.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , and comprising locating the first vertical array of heaters according to a first vertical distribution and locating the second vertical array of sensors according to a second vertical distribution. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the second vertical distribution is different from the first vertical distribution. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to evaluating a heat loss factor of a temperature drop from the hot water tank to a water outlet supplying the user. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to measuring a temperature of a cold water supply to the user. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to receiving a positive response to a query to the user whether water within the hot water tank is to be heated. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the instruction is indicative of a temperature and a duration of the supply of water. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to analyzing sequentially heat contents of respective sections of the tank defined by the first vertical array. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the first vertical array defines respective sections of the tank, and wherein the control unit is configured to activate the at least one of the heaters in response to maintaining that no given section is heated to a first temperature that is higher than a second temperature of a further section above the given section. 
     
     
         42 - 46 . (canceled)