Systems and methods for detecting scale deposits in a fluid heating device

Abstract

The disclosed technology includes a tankless liquid heater system for detecting buildup on a heating element, including: a chamber; at least one heating element to heat liquid in the chamber; at least one sensor to detect data associated with identifying buildup on the at least one heating element; and at least one device to: receive the data detected by the at least one sensor; determine, based on the data, an amount of the buildup on the at least one heating element; and adjust an operation of the at least one heating element based on the amount of the buildup on the at least one heating element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tankless liquid heater system for detecting buildup on a heating element, the tankless liquid heater system comprising:
 a chamber;   at least one heating element configured to heat liquid in the chamber;   at least one sensor configured to detect data associated with identifying buildup on the at least one heating element; and   at least one device configured to:   receive the data detected by the at least one sensor;   determine, based on the data, an amount of the buildup on the at least one heating element; and   adjust an operation of the at least one heating element based on the amount of the buildup on the at least one heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a flow sensor, and wherein the data comprise a flow rate of the liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an inlet temperature sensor, and wherein the data comprise an inlet temperature of the liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an outlet temperature sensor, and wherein the data comprise an outlet temperature of the liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the at least one heating element, and wherein the data comprise the temperature of the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an infrared sensor, and wherein the data comprise thickness data of the buildup. 
     
     
         7 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure sensor, and wherein the data comprise a pressure of the liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a resistance sensor, and wherein the data comprise a resistance of the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         9 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one device is on or within the tankless liquid heater system. 
     
     
         10 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one device is remote from a device comprising the chamber, the at least one sensor, and the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         11 . The tankless liquid heater system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one device is further configured to generate an alert indicating the amount of the buildup on the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         12 . A tankless liquid heater device for detecting buildup on a heating element, the tankless liquid heater device configured to:
 receive, from at least one sensor configured to detect data associated with identifying buildup on at least one heating element configured to heat liquid, the data;   determine, based on the data, an amount of the buildup on the at least one heating element; and   adjust an operation of the at least one heating element based on the amount of the buildup on the at least one heating element.   
     
     
         13 . The tankless liquid heater device of  claim 12 , wherein the data comprise a flow rate of the liquid. 
     
     
         14 . The tankless liquid heater device of  claim 12 , wherein the data comprise an inlet temperature of the liquid. 
     
     
         15 . The tankless liquid heater device of  claim 12 , wherein the data comprise an outlet temperature of the liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The tankless liquid heater device of  claim 12 , wherein the data comprise a temperature of the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         17 . The tankless liquid heater device of  claim 12 , wherein the data comprise thickness data of the buildup. 
     
     
         18 . The tankless liquid heater device of  claim 12 , wherein the data comprise a pressure of the liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The tankless liquid heater device of  claim 12 , the data comprise a resistance of the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         20 . A method for detecting buildup on a heating element of a tankless liquid heating system, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a controller device of a tankless liquid heating system, sensor data from at least one sensor of the tankless liquid heating system;   determining, by the controller device, based on the sensor data, an amount of buildup on at least one heating element of the tankless liquid heating system; and   adjusting, by the controller device, an operation of the at least one heating element based on the amount of the buildup on the at least one heating element.