Caloric Water Heater Appliance

Abstract

A water heater appliance includes a first heat exchanger that is coupled to a tank. The water heater appliance also includes a caloric heat pump system that is configured for heating liquid within the tank via the first heat exchanger. The caloric heat pump system includes a plurality of caloric material stages. A field generator is positioned such that the caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
 a tank;   a first heat exchanger coupled to the tank for delivery of heat to liquid within the tank;   a second heat exchanger; and   a caloric heat pump system configured for heating liquid within the tank at the first heat exchanger, the caloric heat pump system comprising
 a plurality of caloric material stages; 
 a field generator positioned proximate the caloric material stages, the field generator positioned such that the caloric material stages are sequentially moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system; and 
 a pump for circulating a heat transfer fluid between the first and second heat exchangers and the caloric material stages. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tank extends between a top portion and a bottom portion along a vertical direction, an inlet of the first heat exchanger positioned at the bottom portion of the tank, an outlet of the first heat exchanger positioned at the top portion of the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a conduit wound around the tank at an outer surface of the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the conduit of the first heat exchanger is wound around the tank between the inlet and the outlet of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 3 , wherein adjacent windings of the conduit are spaced apart from one another along the vertical direction on the outer surface of the tank. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the adjacent windings of the conduit are uniformly spaced apart from one another along the vertical direction on the outer surface of the tank. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the conduit is wound onto the outer surface of the tank at a constant rate. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric heating element disposed within the tank and operable to heat liquid within the tank. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a casing, the tank, the second heat exchanger and the caloric material stages all disposed within the casing, the second heat exchanger and the caloric material stages positioned over the tank within the casing. 
     
     
         11 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
 a casing;   a tank disposed within the casing;   a first heat exchanger disposed within the casing and coupled to the tank for delivery of heat to liquid within the tank;   a second heat exchanger disposed within the casing such that the second heat exchanger is spaced apart from the first heat exchanger;   a caloric heat pump system disposed within the casing and configured for heating liquid within the tank via the first heat exchanger, the caloric heat pump system comprising
 a plurality of caloric material stages; 
 a field generator positioned proximate the caloric material stages, the field generator positioned such that the caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system; and 
 a pump for circulating an aqueous heat transfer fluid between the first and second heat exchangers and the caloric material stages. 
   
     
     
         12 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the tank extends between a top portion and a bottom portion along a vertical direction, an inlet of the first heat exchanger positioned at the bottom portion of the tank, an outlet of the first heat exchanger positioned at the top portion of the tank. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a conduit wound around the tank at an outer surface of the tank. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the conduit of the first heat exchanger is wound around the tank between the inlet and the outlet of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein adjacent windings of the conduit are spaced apart from one another along the vertical direction on the outer surface of the tank. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the adjacent windings of the conduit are uniformly spaced apart from one another along the vertical direction on the outer surface of the tank. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the conduit is wound onto the outer surface of the tank at a constant rate. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising an electric heating element disposed within the tank and operable to heat liquid within the tank. 
     
     
         19 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the caloric material stages and the second heat exchanger are positioned over the tank within the casing.