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 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.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  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. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in claim  16  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. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  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.