A smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler, system, and a method of use

Abstract

A smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler for heating liquid with low energy consumption comprising a housing, at least one separator disposed within the housing to form a plurality of compartments, each of the at least one separator having flow passage means for liquid communication with adjacent compartment(s), a liquid inlet in a compartment disposed within the housing, a liquid outlet in a compartment disposed within the housing, a heater disposed in one of said compartments and means for moving liquid.Wherein while hot liquid is flowing out through said liquid outlet at a compartment, fresh liquid is flowing in through said liquid inlet at a compartment to replace said hot liquid.Wherein the liquid is movable from one compartment to another compartment, thus, changing the size/capacity of each of said compartments.Thereby, the at least one separator preventing mixing of liquid in one compartment with liquid of adjacent compartments, and thus, saves energy.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler for heating liquid with low energy consumption comprising:
 a housing;   at least one separator disposed within the housing to form a plurality of compartments, each of said at least one separator having flow passage means for liquid communication with adjacent compartment(s);   a liquid inlet in a compartment disposed within the housing;   a liquid outlet in a compartment disposed within the housing;   a heater disposed in one of said compartments;   means for moving liquid; and   wherein while hot liquid is flowing out through said liquid outlet at a compartment, fresh liquid is flowing in through said liquid inlet at a compartment to replace said hot liquid,   wherein the liquid is movable from one compartment to another compartment, thus, changing the size/capacity of each of said compartments,   thereby, said at least one separator preventing mixing of liquid in one compartment with liquid of adjacent compartments, and thus, saves energy.   
     
     
         24 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one separator is a thermal separator. 
     
     
         25 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 23  further comprising at least one temperature sensor disposed in at least one of said compartments and a room/outside temperature sensor. 
     
     
         26 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 23  further comprising automatic thermostatic control(s) to maintain the liquid temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 23 , wherein said means for moving liquid is at least one pump responding to changes in volume of each of said compartments by transferring liquid from one compartment to another. 
     
     
         28 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one pump is embedded in said at least one separator. 
     
     
         29 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one pump is placed in a “dry” zone above/under “wet” compartments. 
     
     
         30 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one pump is connected to pipe(s) passing through said at least one separator to move liquid through the compartments, and said at least one separator is movable in coordination with the operation of the at least one pump. 
     
     
         31 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 23 , wherein said housing and/or said at least one separator are made of materials selected from alloy steel, carbon steel and polymeric materials. 
     
     
         32 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 23 , wherein said boiler is wrapped in at least one layer of insulation to keep the liquid warm. 
     
     
         33 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one layer of insulation is selected from fiberglass fabric, cork sheet, ceramic paper. 
     
     
         34 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 23 , wherein the boiler is a three-compartment boiler or a two-compartment boiler for use in limited spaces. 
     
     
         35 . A smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system for heating liquid with low energy consumption comprising:
 the smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler of  claim 23 ,   a processing program implemented on a processor; and
 wherein the processing program activating the smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler, and controlling liquid movement in/out of each of the multiple compartments, thus, varying the volume of each one of the compartments, 
 thereby, liquid moving from one compartment to an adjacent compartment pushing at least one separator, said at least one separator preventing mixing of liquid in one compartment with liquid of adjacent compartments, and thus, saves energy. 
   
     
     
         36 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor, and/or the controller and/or the heater and/or the at least one pump are associated with said processor via wired communication or wireless communication. 
     
     
         37 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system of  claim 35 , wherein the processing program controlling the heater and/or the at least one pump. 
     
     
         38 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system of  claim 35 , wherein the processing program communicating with a cloud server via data communication means selected from Wifi, Narrow/wide band IOT (cellular network), Lora, SigFox, BT, BLE, and ethernet (local network). 
     
     
         39 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system of  claim 35 , wherein the processing program sending notifications and/or alerts to a user by text messages, electronic mails, mobile application notifications and the like. 
     
     
         40 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system of  claim 39 , wherein the processing program receiving feedback from the user, and/or from the cloud server to optimize the performance of said boiler. 
     
     
         41 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system of  claim 40 , wherein the processing program recording malfunction details and sending said malfunction details to the cloud server, said processing program collecting feedback data from the cloud server and using the data to optimize its algorithms. 
     
     
         42 . The smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system of  claim 35 , wherein said processing program controlling at least one of:
 amount of liquid held in each one of said compartments;   amount of liquid required in a desired pre-set temperature;   liquid temperature in each of said compartment;   amount of liquid to be heated; and   time duration expected to heat up the liquid to a desired temperature.   
     
     
         43 . A method for using the smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system comprising:
 (a) turning on the smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler system of  claim 35 ;   (b) initiating the heating process either automatically at a pre-set date and time or by a user;   (c) selecting a desired heating scheme either automatically or by a user;   (d) checking whether there is enough liquid in a desired temperature in a top compartment;   (e) if the amount of liquid and the temperature of the liquid in the top compartment is correct, terminating the heating process and notifying the user;   (f) if the amount of liquid and the temperature of the liquid in the top compartment is incorrect, checking whether the temperature of the liquid in the top compartment is correct;   (g) if the temperature of the liquid in the top compartment is correct but the amount of liquid is not sufficient, heating liquid in a lower compartment and moving said liquid to the top compartment;   (h) if the temperature of the liquid in the top compartment is incorrect, moving liquid from the top compartment to a lower compartment, heating the liquid, and moving the liquid back to the top compartment;   (i) checking the amount of liquid in the lower compartment, if the amount of liquid is not sufficient, moving liquid from an adjacent bottom compartment thereto; if the amount of liquid in said lower compartment is greater than needed, moving excess liquid to the bottom compartment; if the amount of liquid is correct, heating the liquid;   (j) if the temperature of the heated liquid is correct, terminating the heating process and notifying the user; if not, returning to (d).