Systems and methods for adaptive flow across multiple water heaters

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for adaptive flow across multiple water heaters. The system may include a plurality of water heaters provided in a cascaded arrangement, with each of the water heaters including a valve. The valves may be, for example, motorized isolation valves that may be automatically closed and/or opened by one or more controllers associated with the water heaters. This may allow for the system to automatically regulate the flow rate through each of the water heaters to provide for optimal usage of the cascaded water heaters. For example, if it is determined by the one or more controllers (based on sensor data from the water heaters) that a flow rate has decreased below a threshold value for a giving water heater firing rate, one or more valves may be closed such that fewer water heaters are used and the flow rate is increased.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of water heaters disposed in a cascaded arrangement; and   a plurality of isolation valves configured to regulate a flow rate through individual water heaters of the plurality of water heaters;   memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and   one or more processors configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 determine that a first number of isolation valves of the plurality of isolation valves are open; 
 receive, from one or more sensors, first data indicating a first flow rate through at least one water heater of the plurality of water heaters at a first time; 
 receive, from the one or more sensors, second data indicating a second flow rate through the at least one water heater at a second time; 
 determine that a difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate is equal to or greater than a threshold amount; and 
 automatically cause an isolation valve of the plurality of isolation valves to open or close. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of isolation valves comprises a first isolation valve and a second isolation valve, and wherein the plurality of water heaters comprises:
 a first water heater coupled to the first isolation valve, wherein the first isolation valve is configured to regulate a first flow rate through the first water heater; and   a second water heater coupled to the second isolation valve, wherein the second isolation valve is configured to regulate a second flow rate through the second water heater,   wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the difference indicates that the flow rate has increased by the threshold amount, and   wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the second isolation valve to open, such that a portion of water flow from the first water heater is diverted to the second water heater.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of isolation valves comprises a first isolation valve and a second isolation valve, and wherein the plurality of water heaters comprises:
 a first water heater coupled to the first isolation valve, wherein the first isolation valve is configured to regulate a first flow rate through the first water heater; and   a second water heater coupled to the second isolation valve, wherein the second isolation valve is configured to regulate a second flow rate through the second water heater,   wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the difference indicates that the flow rate or the second water heater has decreased by the threshold amount, and   wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the second isolation valve to close, such that water flow is prevented through the second water heater.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of: a flow sensor, an inlet temperature sensor, and an outlet temperature sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 receive, at a first time, a first inlet temperature and a first outlet temperature associated with a first water heater operating at a first firing rate;   determine a first temperature difference between the first inlet temperature and the first outlet temperature;   receive, at a second time, a second inlet temperature and a second outlet temperature associated with the first water heater operating at the first firing rate;   determine a second temperature difference between the second inlet temperature and the second outlet temperature;   determine that a difference between the second temperature difference and the first temperature difference is greater than a threshold value;   determine that sediment or debris is present in the first water heater; and   automatically cause a first isolation valve associated with the first water heater to open, such that water flows through the first water heater.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein automatically causing the isolation valve to open or close further comprises actuating a motor of the isolation valve. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 receive, at a first time, a first inlet temperature and a first outlet temperature associated with a first water heater operating at a first firing rate;   determine a first temperature difference between the first inlet temperature and the first outlet temperature;   receive, at a second time, a second inlet temperature and a second outlet temperature associated with the first water heater operating at the first firing rate;   determine a second temperature difference between the second inlet temperature and the second outlet temperature;   determine that a difference between the second temperature difference and the first temperature difference is greater than a threshold value; and   cause an alert to be generated.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 determining, using one or more processors, that a first number of isolation valves of a plurality of isolation valves are open, wherein the plurality of isolation valves of configured to regulate a flow rate through individual water heaters of a plurality of water heaters disposed in a cascaded arrangement;   receiving, using the one or more processors and from one or more sensors, first data indicating a first flow rate through at least one water heater of the plurality of water heaters at a first time;   receiving, using the one or more processors and from the one or more sensors, second data indicating a second flow rate through the at least one water heater at a second time;   determining, using the one or more processors, that a difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate is equal to or greater than a threshold amount; and   automatically causing an isolation valve of the plurality of isolation valves to open or close.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of isolation valves comprises a first isolation valve and a second isolation valve, and wherein the plurality of water heaters comprises:
 a first water heater coupled to the first isolation valve, wherein the first isolation valve is configured to regulate a first flow rate through the first water heater; and   a second water heater coupled to the second isolation valve, wherein the second isolation valve is configured to regulate a second flow rate through the second water heater,   wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the difference indicates that the flow rate has increased by the threshold amount, and   wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the second isolation valve to open, such that a portion of water flow from the first water heater is diverted to the second water heater.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of isolation valves comprises a first isolation valve and a second isolation valve, and wherein the plurality of water heaters comprises:
 a first water heater coupled to the first isolation valve, wherein the first isolation valve is configured to regulate a first flow rate through the first water heater; and   a second water heater coupled to the second isolation valve, wherein the second isolation valve is configured to regulate a second flow rate through the second water heater,   wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the difference indicates that the flow rate or the second water heater has decreased by the threshold amount, and   wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the second isolation valve to close, such that water flow is prevented through the second water heater.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of: a flow sensor, an inlet temperature sensor, and an outlet temperature sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, at a first time, a first inlet temperature and a first outlet temperature associated with a first water heater operating at a first firing rate;   determining a first temperature difference between the first inlet temperature and the first outlet temperature;   receiving, at a second time, a second inlet temperature and a second outlet temperature associated with the first water heater operating at the first firing rate;   determining a second temperature difference between the second inlet temperature and the second outlet temperature;   determining that a difference between the second temperature difference and the first temperature difference is greater than a threshold value;   determining that sediment or debris is present in the first water heater; and   automatically causing a first isolation valve associated with the first water heater to open, such that water flows through the first water heater.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein automatically causing the isolation valve to open or close further comprises actuating a motor of the isolation valve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, at a first time, a first inlet temperature and a first outlet temperature associated with a first water heater operating at a first firing rate;   determining a first temperature difference between the first inlet temperature and the first outlet temperature;   receiving, at a second time, a second inlet temperature and a second outlet temperature associated with the first water heater operating at the first firing rate;   determining a second temperature difference between the second inlet temperature and the second outlet temperature;   determining that a difference between the second temperature difference and the first temperature difference is greater than a threshold value; and   presenting, on a user interface of the first water heater, an alert.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations of:
 determining that a first number of isolation valves of a plurality of isolation valves are open, wherein the plurality of isolation valves of configured to regulate a flow rate through individual water heaters of a plurality of water heaters disposed in a cascaded arrangement;   receiving, from one or more sensors, first data indicating a first flow rate through at least one water heater of the plurality of water heaters at a first time;   receiving, from the one or more sensors, second data indicating a second flow rate through the at least one water heater at a second time;   determining that a difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate is equal to or greater than a threshold amount; and   automatically causing an isolation valve of the plurality of isolation valves to open or close.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of isolation valves comprises a first isolation valve and a second isolation valve, and wherein the plurality of water heaters comprises:
 a first water heater coupled to the first isolation valve, wherein the first isolation valve is configured to regulate a first flow rate through the first water heater; and   a second water heater coupled to the second isolation valve, wherein the second isolation valve is configured to regulate a second flow rate through the second water heater,   wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the difference indicates that the flow rate has increased by the threshold amount, and   wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the second isolation valve to open, such that a portion of water flow from the first water heater is diverted to the second water heater.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of isolation valves comprises a first isolation valve and a second isolation valve, and wherein the plurality of water heaters comprises:
 a first water heater coupled to the first isolation valve, wherein the first isolation valve is configured to regulate a first flow rate through the first water heater; and   a second water heater coupled to the second isolation valve, wherein the second isolation valve is configured to regulate a second flow rate through the second water heater,   wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the difference indicates that the flow rate or the second water heater has decreased by the threshold amount, and   wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the second isolation valve to close, such that water flow is prevented through the second water heater.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of: a flow sensor, an inlet temperature sensor, and an outlet temperature sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to perform operations of:
 receiving, at a first time, a first inlet temperature and a first outlet temperature associated with a first water heater operating at a first firing rate;   determining a first temperature difference between the first inlet temperature and the first outlet temperature;   receiving, at a second time, a second inlet temperature and a second outlet temperature associated with the first water heater operating at the first firing rate;   determining a second temperature difference between the second inlet temperature and the second outlet temperature;   determining that a difference between the second temperature difference and the first temperature difference is greater than a threshold value;   determining that sediment or debris is present in the first water heater; and   automatically causing a first isolation valve associated with the first water heater to open, such that water flows through the first water heater.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein automatically causing the isolation valve to open or close further comprises actuating a motor of the isolation valve.