Energy saving system and method for heating water

Abstract

An energy saving system and method for heating water are provided. The method for controlling the costs of heating water includes the steps of: using heat pumps to heat water in a heating tank during periods of low rate electricity to a pre-determined maximum temperature; maintaining the temperature of the water in the heating tank between a pre-determined minimum temperature and the pre-determined maximum temperature; transferring the heated water to a storage tank; maintaining the temperature of the water in the storage tank within a pre-determined temperature range; and supplying the heated water under pressure to consumers, the heated water having a temperature within the pre-determined temperature range.

1 . A method for controlling the costs of heating water comprising the steps of:
 activating at least one heat pump to heat water in at least one heating tank to a pre-determined maximum temperature;   maintaining the temperature of the water in said at least one heating tank between a pre-determined minimum temperature and said pre-determined maximum temperature;   transferring the heated water to at least one storage tank;   maintaining the temperature of the water in said at least one storage tank within a pre-determined temperature range; and   supplying the heated water under pressure to consumers, said heated water having a temperature within said pre-determined temperature range.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of maintaining the temperature of the water in said at least one storage tank, comprises the step of:
 transferring water heated by a solar collection system to said at least one storage tank.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein, if the temperature of the water in said at least one storage tank rises above the maximum temperature of said pre-determined temperature range; the method comprises the step of:
 adding water circulating within a pipe network connecting said consumers to said at least one storage tank, thereby to reduce the temperature of the water in said at least one storage tank to within the pre-determined temperature range.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating said at least one heat pump comprises the steps of:
 opening a valve connected to the main water supply; and   activating at least one circulating pump in communication with said at least one heat pump,   thereby to allow water to be heated by said at least one heat pump.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 utilizing a control device to control the operation of said at least one heat pump and said at least one circulating pump.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of maintaining the temperature of the water in said heating tank, further comprises the steps of:
 detecting any of a group of faults including heating pump failure, circulating pump failure, overheating of the water in the heating tank and level of water in the storage tank falling below a critical level; and   alerting the control device if any of said group of faults is detected.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 maintaining a first minimum volume of water in the at least one storage tank during periods of peak tariff electricity;   maintaining a second minimum volume of water in the at least one storage tank during periods of regular tariff electricity, where said second minimum volume of water is greater than said first minimum volume of water and where peak tariff electricity costs more than regular tariff electricity; and   maintaining a third minimum volume of water in the at least one storage tank during periods of cheap rate tariff electricity, where said third minimum volume of water is greater than said second minimum volume of water and where regular tariff electricity costs more than cheap rate tariff electricity.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 if the volume of water in the at least one storage tank drops below said first minimum volume during periods of peak rate electricity, activating the at least one heat pump to heat water within the at least one heating tank; and   transferring the heated water from the at least one heating tank to the at least one storage tank to ensure that the volume of water in the at least one storage tank remains greater than said first minimum volume.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 if the volume of water in the at least one storage tank drops below said second minimum volume during periods of regular rate electricity, activating the at least one heat pump to heat water within the at least one heating tank; and   transferring the heated water from the at least one heating tank to the at least one storage tank to ensure that the volume of water in the at least one storage tank remains greater than said second minimum volume.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 if the volume of water in the at least one storage tank drops below said third minimum volume during periods of cheap rate electricity, activating the at least one heat pump to heat water within the at least one heating tank; and   transferring the heated water from the at least one heating tank to the at least one storage tank to ensure that the volume of water in the at least one storage tank remains greater than said third minimum volume.   
     
     
         11 . An energy saving system for controlling the costs of heating water comprising:
 at least one heating tank;   at least one heat pump in communication with said at least one heating tank, thereby to heat water in said at least one heating tank to a pre-determined temperature;   at least one storage tank in communication with said at least one heating tank to store water previously heated in said at least one heating tank;   at least one pressure pump in communication with said at least one storage tank for supplying the heated water from said at least one storage tank to consumers;   a control device in communication with said at least one heat pump; and   a pipe network system connecting said at least one heating tank; said at least one heating tank and said at least one heat pump with consumers;   wherein the energy saving system is configured to maintain the temperature of the water within said at least one storage tank and pipe network system within a pre-determined range.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 solar water heating system in communication with said at least one storage tank and said control device for supplementary heating of water in said at least one storage tank.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein solar collection system comprises an evacuated tube solar collector, said evacuated tube solar collector comprising at least one heat transfer header, each heat transfer header having a plurality of vacuum tubes connected thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a heating coil fitted within said at least one storage tank in communication with said at least one storage tank and said control device for supplementary heating of water within the storage tank.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first thermostat for measuring the temperature of the water in said at least one heating tank;   a second thermostat for measuring the temperature of the water in said at least one storage tank;   wherein said first and said second thermostats are in communication with said control device.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one heat pump is a reverse-cycle air conditioner. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first transducer for determining the volume of water in said at least one heating tank;   a second transducer for determining the volume of water in said at least one storage tank;   wherein said first and said second transducers are in communication with said control device.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein if said second transducer indicates that the volume of water in said at least one storage tank has dropped to a pre-determined minimum volume during periods of cheap rate tariff electricity;
 said at least one heat pump is activated to heat water to said pre-determined temperature; and   said heated water is added to said at least one storage tank,   thereby to ensure that the volume of water in said at least one storage tank remains greater than said pre-determined minimum volume.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein if said second transducer indicates that the volume of water in said at least one storage tank has dropped to a second minimum volume during periods of regular rate electricity; wherein said second minimum volume of water is less than said first minimum volume of water and wherein regular tariff electricity costs more than cheap rate tariff electricity;
 said at least one heat pump is activated to heat water to said pre-determined temperature; and   said heated water is added to said at least one storage tank,   thereby to ensure that the volume of water in said at least one storage tank remains greater than said second minimum volume.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein if said second transducer indicates that the volume of water in said at least one storage tank has dropped to a third minimum volume during periods of peak rate electricity; wherein said third minimum volume of water is less than said second minimum volume of water and wherein peak tariff electricity costs more than regular rate tariff electricity;
 said at least one heat pump is activated to heat water to said pre-determined temperature; and   said heated water is added to said at least one storage tank,   thereby to ensure that the volume of water in said at least one storage tank remains greater than said third minimum volume.