Heat pump water heater appliance

Abstract

A water heater appliance includes a sealed system and an electric heating element. The sealed system and electric heating element are configured for heating water within an interior volume of a tank. A temperature sensor is mounted to the tank. The electric heating element is positioned below the temperature sensor within the interior volume of the tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, the water heater appliance comprising:
 a tank defining an interior volume;   a sealed system configured for heating water within the interior volume of the tank;   a dip tube mounted to the tank, the dip tube extending into the interior volume of the tank;   a temperature sensor mounted an outer surface of the tank, the temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of water within the interior volume of the tank; and   an electric heating element mounted to the tank, at least a portion of the electric heating element positioned within the interior volume of the tank, the electric heating element positioned below the temperature sensor along the vertical direction, the electric heating element spaced apart from the temperature sensor along the vertical direction by a distance, the distance being greater than one inch and less than twenty-four inches.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor and the electric heating element are positioned on the tank such that the electric heating element is positioned directly below the temperature sensor along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the distance is about eight inches. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed system comprises a condenser positioned on the outer surface of the tank at a bottom half of the tank. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the condenser is wound about the outer surface of the tank such that windings of the condenser are positioned on a bottom third of the tank. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dip tube defines an auxiliary aperture, the auxiliary aperture aligned with the temperature sensor such that water exiting the dip tube via the auxiliary aperture is directed towards the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the auxiliary aperture and the temperature sensor are positioned at a common height along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the electric heating element is a first electric heating element, the water heater appliance further comprising a second electric heating element positioned below the first electric heating element at a bottom portion of the tank. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is the only temperature sensor positioned on the tank that is configured for measuring the temperature of water within the interior volume of the tank. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dip tube comprises a tube wall and an end cap, the end cap mounted to the tube wall at a distal end portion of the tube wall, the tube wall defining a plurality of outlets adjacent the distal end portion of the tube wall, the plurality of outlets positioned above the end cap along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         11 . A heat pump water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, the heat pump water heater appliance comprising:
 a tank defining an interior volume, the tank extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction;   a shroud positioned at the top portion of the tank;   a sealed system configured for heating water within the interior volume of the tank, the sealed system comprising a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser, the compressor and evaporator positioned within the shroud, the condenser positioned on the tank;   a dip tube mounted to the tank at the top portion of the tank, the dip tube extending downwardly along the vertical direction into the interior volume of the tank;   a temperature sensor positioned at an outer surface of the tank, the temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of water within the interior volume of the tank; and   an electric heating element mounted to the tank and extending into the interior volume of the tank, the electric heating element configured for heating water within the interior volume of the tank, the electric heating element positioned below the temperature sensor along the vertical direction by a distance, the distance being greater than one inch.   
     
     
         12 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor and the electric heating element are positioned on the tank such that the electric heating element is positioned directly below the temperature sensor along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the distance is about eight inches. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the condenser is positioned on the outer surface of the tank at the bottom portion of the tank. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the condenser is wound about the outer surface of the tank such that windings of the condenser are positioned on a bottom third of the tank. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the dip tube defines an auxiliary aperture, the auxiliary aperture aligned with the temperature sensor such that water exiting the dip tube via the auxiliary aperture is directed towards the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary aperture and the temperature sensor are positioned at a common height along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the electric heating element is a first electric heating element, the water heater appliance further comprising a second electric heating element positioned below the first electric heating element along the vertical direction, the second electric heating element positioned at the bottom portion of the tank. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor is the only temperature sensor positioned on the tank that is configured for measuring the temperature of water within the interior volume of the tank. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the dip tube comprises a tube wall and an end cap, the end cap mounted to the tube wall at a distal end portion of the tube wall, the tube wall defining a plurality of outlets adjacent the distal end portion of the tube wall, the plurality of outlets positioned above the end cap along the vertical direction.