Water heater including multiple temperature sensors

Abstract

A water heater appliance includes a tank storing water, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a heat source. A method of operating the water heater appliance includes determining a temperature set point of the water within the tank; obtaining a first temperature of the water within the tank via the first temperature sensor; obtaining a second temperature of the water within the tank via the second temperature sensor; determining a heat depletion level of the water indicating a temperature reduction of the water within the tank based on the temperature set point, the first temperature, and the second temperature; and activating the heat source based on the determined heat depletion level.

1 . A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the water heater appliance comprising:
 a tank defining a receiving space for storing a quantity of water;   a heat source selectively providing heat to the quantity of water;   a first temperature sensor provided at a first location on the tank;   a second temperature sensor provided at a second location on the tank different from the first location, wherein each of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor is provided on an exterior surface of the tank; and   a controller operably coupled with the heat source, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor, the controller being configured to perform an operation, the operation comprising:
 determining a temperature set point of the water within the receiving space, 
 obtaining a first temperature of the water within the receiving space via the first temperature sensor, 
 comparing the first temperature of the water within the receiving space against a first value, the first value comprising the temperature set point minus a predetermined temperature offset, wherein the predetermined temperature offset is retrieved from a table before an activation of the water heater appliance; 
 obtaining a second temperature of the water within the receiving space via the second temperature sensor, 
 determining a heat depletion level of the water indicating a temperature reduction of the water within the receiving space based on the temperature set point, the first temperature, and the second temperature, and 
 activating the heat source based on the determined heat depletion level. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heat depletion level is selectable as one of a standby level, a mild heat depletion level, a critical heat depletion level, and a severe heat depletion level. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 determining that the heat depletion level has transitioned from one of the mild heat depletion level, the critical heat depletion level, or the severe heat depletion level to the standby level in response to activating the heat source; and   deactivating the heat source in response to determining that the heat depletion level is at the standby level.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is compared against a second value, the second value being determined according to a second variable determined according to an activation of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first or the second variables is further determined based on the temperature set point. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first location of the first temperature sensor is provided below the second location of the second temperature sensor along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source is a gas heat source provided at a bottom of the tank along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dip tube at least partially provided within the receiving space of the tank, the dip tube comprising an outlet end positioned below a midpoint of the tank along the vertical direction.   
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a water heater appliance, the water heater appliance comprising a tank storing water, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a heat source, the method comprising:
 determining a temperature set point of the water within the tank;   obtaining a first temperature of the water within the tank via the first temperature sensor;   comparing the first temperature of the water within the tank against a first value, the first value comprising the temperature set point minus a predetermined temperature offset, wherein the predetermined temperature offset is retrieved from a table before an activation of the water heater appliance;   obtaining a second temperature of the water within the tank via the second temperature sensor;   determining a heat depletion level of the water indicating a temperature reduction of the water within the tank based on the temperature set point, the first temperature, and the second temperature; and   activating the heat source based on the determined heat depletion level.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the heat depletion level is selectable as one of a standby level, a mild heat depletion level, a critical heat depletion level, and a severe heat depletion level. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining that the heat depletion level has transitioned from one of the mild heat depletion level, the critical heat depletion level, or the severe heat depletion level to the standby level in response to activating the heat source; and   deactivating the heat source in response to determining that the heat depletion level is at the standby level.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first location of the first temperature sensor is provided below the second location of the second temperature sensor along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor is provided on an exterior surface of the tank. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the heat source is a gas heat source provided at a bottom of the tank along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the water heater appliance further comprises:
 a dip tube at least partially provided within the tank, the dip tube comprising an outlet end positioned below a midpoint of the tank along a vertical direction.