Methods for operating heat pump water heater appliances

Abstract

Heat pump water heater appliances and operational methods therefor are provided. A method includes receiving a peak generation signal, and activating a secondary heating element of the heat pump water heater appliance when the peak generation signal is received. The method further includes activating a sealed system of the heat pump water heater appliance when the peak generation signal is received, and deactivating the secondary heating element when the sealed system is operational after activation or when a non-peak generation signal is received subsequent to receipt of the peak generation signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a heat pump water heater appliance, the method comprising:
 receiving a peak generation signal;   activating a secondary heating element of the heat pump water heater appliance when the peak generation signal is received;   activating a sealed system of the heat pump water heater appliance when the peak generation signal is received; and   deactivating the secondary heating element when the sealed system is operational after activation or when a non-peak generation signal is received subsequent to receipt of the peak generation signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deactivating the sealed system when the non-peak generation signal is received subsequent to receipt of the peak generation signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary heating element is an electrical resistance heating element. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peak generation signal is a line frequency of above 60 Hertz. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-peak generation signal is a line frequency of at or below 60 Hertz. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing a set temperature for the heat pump water heater appliance when the peak generation signal is received. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the set temperature is increased to a maximum set temperature value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decreasing the set temperature for the heat pump water heater appliance when the non-peak generation signal is received. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the set temperature is decreased to a predetermined set temperature value. 
     
     
         10 . A heat pump water heater appliance, the heat pump 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 sealed system configured to heat water within the chamber of the tank;   a secondary heating element configured to heat water within the chamber of the tank;   a controller in communication with the sealed system and the secondary heating element, the controller configured for:
 receiving a peak generation signal; 
 activating the secondary heating element when the peak generation signal is received; 
 activating the sealed system when the peak generation signal is received; and 
 deactivating the secondary heating element when the sealed system is operational after activation or when a non-peak generation signal is received subsequent to receipt of the peak generation signal. 
   
     
     
         11 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for deactivating the sealed system when the non-peak generation signal is received subsequent to receipt of the peak generation signal. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary heating element is an electrical resistance heating element. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the peak generation signal is a line frequency of above 60 Hertz. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the non-peak generation signal is a line frequency of at or below 60 Hertz. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for increasing a set temperature for the heat pump water heater appliance when the peak generation signal is received. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the set temperature is increased to a maximum set temperature value. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for decreasing the set temperature for the heat pump water heater appliance when the non-peak generation signal is received. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the set temperature is decreased to a predetermined set temperature value. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is in communication with a network, the network in communication with a utility. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pump water heater appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the network.