Hybrid Gas-Electric Hot Water Heater

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods directed to using renewable energy sources with hot water heating systems.

1 . A gas electric hybrid hot water heater adapted for use with first and second power sources, comprising:
 a storage tank having:
 an inlet fluidly connectable to a water supply; 
 an outlet fluidly connectable to at least at least one valve, wherein when the valve is opened, water from the water supply displaces water through the storage tank and out the outlet; 
   a gas fired heating element adapted to burn gas from a gas supply to apply thermal energy to water in the storage tank;   an electrical heating element at least partially disposed within said storage tank, wherein said electrical heating element is adapted for connection to an electrical power source; and   a controller connected to the gas fired heating element and the electrical heating element, wherein the controller selectively operates the heating elements.   
     
     
         2 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a renewable power source free of connection to a utility having electrical leads connected to the electrical heating element, wherein the renewable power source provides electrical power to the electrical heating element.   
     
     
         3 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first thermostat associated with said gas fired heating element, wherein said gas fired heating element operates in response to said first thermostat; and   a second thermostat associated with said electrical heating element, wherein said electrical heating element operates in response to said second thermostat.   
     
     
         4 . The hot water heater of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second thermostats are adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The hot water heater of  claim 3 , wherein said second thermostat is set at a temperature above a temperature of the first thermostat. 
     
     
         6 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical heating element is positioned within said tank at a location proximate to a bottom of said tank. 
     
     
         7 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises:
 operating logic adapted to identify expected usage times when water passes through the tank between the inlet and the outlet; and   control logic operative to control the heating elements based at least in part on the usage times.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises:
 operating logic adapted to selectively operate said heating elements based at least in part on a temperature of water in said storage tank.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises:
 a network interface, wherein the controller can send and receive data via said network interface.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy source is a photovoltaic array and wherein the controller is operative to control the operation of the photovoltaic array. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller further comprises a MPPT module. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical heating element further comprises:
 first and second elements disposed though a common orifice in said storage tank, wherein said first element is adapted to a first electrical power source and said second element is adapted for connection to a second electrical power source, wherein said first and second electrical power sources are different.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical heating element is disposed though one of said inlet and said outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical heating element is disposed through one of: a drain opening of the storage tank; a pressure relief valve opening of the storage tank; and an anode rod opening of the storage tank. 
     
     
         15 . A method for use with a hot water heater having a first gas fired heating element connected to a fossil fuel source and a second heating element connected to a renewable energy source, comprising:
 providing a controller interconnected to the first heating element and the second heating element, wherein the controller is operative to execute logic to selectively operate the first and second element;   operating the second heating element when energy from a renewable energy source connected to the second heating element is available and a temperature of water in a tank of the hot water heater is below a predetermined threshold level; and   deactivation the first heating element when one of:
 electrical energy from the renewable energy source is above a predetermined level; and 
 a command is received to deactivate the first heating element from a network interface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving operating commands at the controller via a network interface, wherein said operating commands are received from a utility provider via the network interface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 diverting electrical energy from the second heating element into an electrical grid upon one of;   the water reaching a predetermined threshold temperature; and   receiving a diversion command from a utility provider via the network interface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 operating the controller to execute logic to determine an amount of energy generated by the renewable heating element; and   reporting the amount of renewable energy generated to a third party via a network interface associated with the controller.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the third party bundles the amount with amounts from other renewable energy sources to generate RECs.