Water heater appliance

Abstract

Water heater appliances are provided. A water heater appliance includes a tank, a hot water conduit and a cold water conduit. The water heater appliance further includes a heat pump assembly configured to heat water within the chamber of the tank, and a thermo-electric assembly configured to generate an electrical current. The thermo-electric assembly includes a thermo-electric converter, a working fluid flowable through the thermo-electric converter, and a heat source configured to heat the working fluid within the thermo-electric converter. At least a portion of the electrical current generated by the thermo-electric assembly is flowed to the heat pump assembly to at least partially power the heat pump assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
 a tank defining a chamber, the tank further defining an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture;   a hot water conduit extending through the outlet aperture and in fluid communication with the chamber of the tank, the hot water conduit configured for directing a flow of water out of the chamber of the tank;   a cold water conduit extending through the inlet aperture and in fluid communication with the chamber of the tank, the cold water conduit configured for directing a flow of water into the chamber of the tank;   a heat pump assembly configured to heat water within the chamber of the tank; and   a thermo-electric assembly configured to generate an electrical current, the thermo-electric assembly comprising an thermo-electric converter, a working fluid flowable through the thermo-electric converter, and a heat source configured to heat the working fluid within the thermo-electric converter,   wherein at least a portion of the electrical current generated by the thermo-electric assembly is flowed to the heat pump assembly to at least partially power the heat pump assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is an alkali-metal working fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the thermo-electric assembly further comprises a conduit, the conduit defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet for flowing the working fluid therethrough, the inlet in fluid communication with the thermo-electric converter for flowing the working fluid from the thermo-electric converter into the passage, the outlet in fluid communication with the thermo-electric converter for flowing the working fluid from the passage into the thermo-electric converter. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater appliance of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the conduit is in contact with the tank. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the conduit is generally helically wrapped around the tank. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the thermo-electric assembly further comprises an auxiliary fluid tank and an auxiliary conduit, the conduit defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet for flowing an auxiliary fluid therethrough, the inlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary fluid tank for flowing the auxiliary fluid from the auxiliary fluid tank into the passage, the outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary fluid tank for flowing the auxiliary fluid from the passage into the auxiliary fluid tank. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the auxiliary conduit is in contact with the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source is a gas burner. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the gas burner is a natural gas burner. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat recovery vessel disposed at least partially within the chamber, the heat recovery vessel defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to receive exhaust fluid from the heat source therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a condensing conduit connected at an inlet to the outlet of the heat recovery vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising an exhaust assembly exterior to the tank, the exhaust assembly connected to an outlet of the condensing conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the exhaust assembly comprises an exhaust fan and a vent. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the electrical current generated by the thermo-electric assembly is flowed to the exhaust fan to at least partially power the exhaust fan. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, and wherein at least a portion of the electrical current generated by the thermo-electric assembly is flowed to the controller to at least partially power the controller. 
     
     
         16 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
 a tank defining a chamber, the tank further defining an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture;   a hot water conduit extending through the outlet aperture and in fluid communication with the chamber of the tank, the hot water conduit configured for directing a flow of water out of the chamber of the tank;   a cold water conduit extending through the inlet aperture and in fluid communication with the chamber of the tank, the cold water conduit configured for directing a flow of water into the chamber of the tank;   a heat pump assembly configured to heat water within the chamber of the tank;   a thermo-electric assembly configured to generate an electrical current, the thermo-electric assembly comprising an thermo-electric converter, a working fluid flowable through the thermo-electric converter, and a heat source configured to heat the working fluid within the thermo-electric converter;   a heat recovery vessel disposed at least partially within the chamber, the heat recovery vessel defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to receive exhaust fluid from the heat source therethrough;   a condensing conduit connected at an inlet to the outlet of the heat recovery vessel; and   an exhaust assembly exterior to the tank, the exhaust assembly connected to an outlet of the condensing conduit,   wherein at least a portion of the electrical current generated by the thermo-electric assembly is flowed to the heat pump assembly to at least partially power the heat pump assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The water heater appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the thermo-electric assembly further comprises a conduit, the conduit defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet for flowing the working fluid therethrough, the inlet in fluid communication with the thermo-electric converter for flowing the working fluid from the thermo-electric converter into the passage, the outlet in fluid communication with the thermo-electric converter for flowing the working fluid from the passage into the thermo-electric converter. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the exhaust assembly comprises an exhaust fan and a vent. 
     
     
         19 . The water heater appliance of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the electrical current generated by the thermo-electric assembly is flowed to the exhaust fan to at least partially power the exhaust fan. 
     
     
         20 . The water heater appliance of  claim 16 , further comprising a controller, and wherein at least a portion of the electrical current generated by the thermo-electric assembly is flowed to the controller to at least partially power the controller.