System and method for controlling gas consumption by gas-fired water heaters

Abstract

A system and a method is described for remotely controlling gas consumption by a power vented gas-fired water heater to reduce consumption of gas by a consumer connected to a gas distribution bank network of a gas provider during overload periods where gas demand is at a peak. The system comprises a consumer controller in communication with the gas provider whereby the controller can operate a modulating gas control valve either directly or through the control of the fan speed of a power vented blower to reduce the supply of gas to the burner of the gas-fired water heater when asked by the provider to do so. Temperature sensors are associated with the water holding tank of the gas-fired water heater to feed water temperature signals to a computer of the controller whereby to enable the controller to execute informed corrective action for the reduction in gas consumption by regulating the gas control valve to reduce the supply of gas to the burner of the water heater.

1 . A system for controlling gas consumption of a powered vented gas-fired water heater, said system comprising a water holding tank having a combustion chamber at a lower end thereof, a gas burner in said combustion chamber, a flue having a lower end in communication with said combustion chamber and a top end in communication with a power venting blower secured exteriorly of said water holding tank, an adjustable modulating gas valve secured between said gas burner and a gas supply conduit, at least one temperature probe secured at a predetermined location to a side wall of said water holding tank for sensing water temperature in said water holding tank at said predetermined location, a controller having a computer with a memory for storing and executing functions for said controller to control the operation of said adjustable modulating gas valve, said controller receiving water temperature signals from said temperature probe for continuous monitoring of the temperature of heated water in said water holding tank at said predetermined location, said gas conduit being connected to a gas provider distribution bank network of gas consumers, and a communication link between said controller and said gas provider for the communication of control signals by said gas provider for causing said controller to perform command signal functions from said gas provider to reduce, resume or shut-off the gas supply to said burner by the operation of said gas modulating valve. 
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said blower is secured on a top wall of an outer housing of said water holding tank and connected to ducting leading to the exterior of a building in which said gas-fired water heater is located. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said modulating gas valve is provided with a gas regulator mechanism operable to reduce or increase the gas supply to said burner to reduce or increase the heat generated by said burner. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said controller upon receiving control signals from said gas provider to reduce the supply of gas to said burner will cause one of (i) operate the fan speed of said power venting blower which simultaneously causes said blower to operate said gas regulator mechanism to reduce said gas supply to said burner, and (ii) operate said gas regulator mechanism to reduce said gas supply to said burner and simultaneously causes said fan speed to reduce due to a reduction in temperature of combustible gases flowing through said flue. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are two or more of said temperature probes secured at different predetermined locations along said side wall of said water holding tank. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  wherein there are a plurality of said temperature probes secured at different spaced-apart locations adjacent said side wall of said water holding tank to detect the temperature of said side wall at said spaced-apart locations to generate a plurality of said temperature signals to store in said memory of said computer an actual temperature profile representative of the water temperature in said water holding tank for comparison with a reference water temperature profile stored in said memory to enable said computer to make a decision of an operational function to operate said gas regulator mechanism or not. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said communication link is a wireless communication link through the internet using a remote control device, such as a smart phone, tablet, desktop computer, laptop, telephone, cell phone or other suitable communication devices that can communicate through the internet by the use of wireless technologies. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said controller is in communication with a subscriber module to display on said module information representative of a command signal received from said gas provider, said module being provided with input means to permit said subscriber to override said command signal function preventing said controller to reduce the gas supply to said burner. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said command signal functions for reduce said gas supply to said burner are transmitted during daily peak consumption time periods if there is an excess demand for gas by said consumers connected to said distribution bank network. 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling gas consumption of a power vented gas fired water heater to prevent overload conditions on a gas distribution bank network of a gas provider, said method comprising the steps of:
 i) communicating a control signal by said gas provider to a controller of a power vented gas-fire water heater of gas consumers of said gas distribution bank network of said gas provider for said controller to operate a modulating gas supply valve controlling a burner mounted in a combustion chamber of a water holding tank of said gas-fired water heater to reduce gas supply to said burner during a predetermined time period, and wherein a power venting blower is secured to a top end of a flue in communication with said combustion chamber,   ii) monitoring water temperature in said water holding tank at one or more predetermined locations by said controller, said controller having a computer provided with a memory for storing and executing functions by said controller to control said modulating gas supply valve, and   iii) automatically reducing the gas supply to said burner by said controller during said predetermined time period if said water temperature within said water holding tank is below a desired water temperature profile stored in a memory of said computer of said controller.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said step (i) comprises said controller operating a gas regulator mechanism of said modulating gas supply valve to reduce gas supply to said burner and thereby reduce the temperature of exhaust combustion gas in the flue causing said power venting blower to reduce the speed of a fan associated therewith in a proportional amount to the reduction of said exhaust combustion gas temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said step (i) comprises said controller operating a power vented blower fan of said power vented blower to reduce the speed of said fan, said power vented blower controlling a gas regulator mechanism of said modulating gas supply valve to reduce the supply of gas to said burner in a proportional amount to the reduced fan speed. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein in step (i) said control signal is transmitted during daily peak consumption time periods if there is an excess demand for gas by said consumers of said distribution bank. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said step (ii) comprises monitoring water temperature in said water holding tank at a plurality of spaced-apart locations adjacent a side wall of said water holding tank to detect the temperature of said side wall at said spaced-apart locations to generate a plurality of said temperature signals to said computer for storage in said memory to develop an actual temperature profile of water temperature in said tank at said predetermined locations, said temperature signals of said side wall being representative of actual temperature of water inside said water holding tank at said spaced-apart locations. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein there is further provided initially storing in said memory a reference water temperature profile representative of a desirable hot water profile as well as a reduced temperature profile for comparison with said actual temperature profile whereby to enable said controller to execute the operation of said gas regulator mechanism or not. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein there is further provided the step of said controller of said gas consumer communicating the status of its power vented gas-fired water heater to said gas provider to permit said gas provider to make an inform decision if gas supplied to other gas consuming appliances of said consumer connected to said gas distribution bank should be reduced or shut down. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said step (i) of communicating is a wireless communication link through the internet using a remote control device, such as a smart phone, tablet, desktop computer, laptop, telephone, cell phone or other suitable communication devices that can communicate through the internet by the use of wireless technologies.