Water leakage detection and mitigation system and method

Abstract

An air inlet duct connected to an air inlet of a burner assembly of a water heater system includes an outlet connected to the air inlet of the burner assembly, a duct inlet for receiving air, a main conduit connecting the duct inlet and the outlet, a branch connected to the main conduit, and a pressure relief mechanism connected to the branch. The pressure relief mechanism opens when the main conduit reaches a predetermined pressure value. The air inlet duct is adapted to mitigate effects from leaks that develop in the water heater system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for use in heating water in a water heater system, the assembly comprising:
 a burner assembly, the burner assembly including a gas inlet, an air inlet, and a flue gas outlet, the burner assembly configured such that gas passing through the gas inlet and air passing through the air inlet are combusted before passing through the flue gas outlet, and   an inlet air duct connected to the air inlet such that air passes through the inlet air duct prior to passing into the air inlet,   wherein the inlet air duct includes an outlet connected to the air inlet, a duct inlet configured to receive air, and a main conduit connecting the duct inlet and the outlet, and   wherein the main conduit includes a branch connected to a pressure relief mechanism, the pressure relief mechanism configured to open when the main conduit reaches a predetermined pressure value.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the gas inlet includes a gas valve having a backpressure rating, wherein the predetermined pressure value is less than the backpressure rating, and wherein the pressure relief mechanism is configured to flow water from the main conduit when pressure in the main conduit reaches the predetermined pressure value. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the branch includes an orifice, and wherein the pressure relief mechanism operates to selectively seal the orifice. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the air inlet is connected to ductwork, and wherein the main conduit is configured to reach the predetermined pressure value as a result of pressure created by water within the ductwork. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure relief mechanism includes a door extending between a seat and a spring, and wherein the spring biases the door against the seat to seal the orifice. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the spring is configured such that, when the predetermined pressure value is met or exceeded, pressure in the main conduit pushes the door off of the seat so that fluid can escape past the door and through the orifice. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the burner assembly includes a blower arranged such that a suction side of the blower creates a vacuum in the main conduit, and wherein the vacuum in the main conduit operates to hold the door against the seat. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet air duct is formed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the air inlet of the burner assembly is connected to the outlet of the inlet air duct via a flexible coupling. 
     
     
         10 . A water leakage detection system for a water heater system, comprising:
 a flue gas circuit extending through a tank of the water heater system, the flue gas circuit comprising:
 a burner; 
 an inlet air duct arranged to provide combustion air to the burner; 
 a heat exchanger arranged downstream of the burner; and 
 a condensate trap arranged downstream of the heat exchanger; 
   a condensate drain line coupled to the condensate trap; and   a pressure relief opening configured to discharge water leaking from the tank of the water heater system into the flue gas circuit, the pressure relief opening being provided in one of the inlet air duct and the condensate drain line, wherein fluid flow through the pressure relief opening is prevented during normal operation of the water heater system.   
     
     
         11 . The water leakage detection system of  claim 10  further comprising a moisture sensor, and wherein the moisture sensor is configured to detect water passing through the pressure relief opening. 
     
     
         12 . The water leakage detection system of  claim 11 , wherein the water leakage detection system is installed within the water heater system, wherein the moisture sensor is used as an input for controlling a shutoff valve, and wherein the shutoff valve is configured to, after the moisture sensor detects the water passing through the pressure relief opening, shut off a water supply to the water heater system. 
     
     
         13 . The water leakage detection system of  claim 10 , wherein the water leakage detection system is configured to allow fluid flow through the pressure relief opening when a pressure at the pressure relief opening exceeds a predetermined pressure value. 
     
     
         14 . The water leakage detection system of  claim 13 , further comprising a spring mechanism, wherein the predetermined pressure value is determined by the spring mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The water leakage detection system of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined pressure value is determined by an elevation distance between the pressure relief opening and the condensate trap. 
     
     
         16 . An inlet air duct configured to connect to an air inlet of a burner assembly of a water heater system, the air inlet duct comprising:
 an outlet connected to the air inlet of the burner assembly,   a duct inlet configured to receive air,   a main conduit connecting the duct inlet and the outlet,   a branch connected to the main conduit, and   a pressure relief mechanism connected to the branch,   wherein the pressure relief mechanism is configured to open when the main conduit reaches a predetermined pressure value.   
     
     
         17 . The inlet air duct of  claim 16 , wherein the pressure relief mechanism is configured to flow water from the main conduit when the main conduit reaches the predetermined pressure value. 
     
     
         18 . The inlet air duct of  claim 16 , wherein the branch includes an orifice, and wherein the pressure relief mechanism operates to selectively seal the orifice. 
     
     
         19 . The inlet air duct of  claim 16 , wherein the duct inlet is connected to ductwork, and wherein the main conduit is configured to reach the predetermined pressure value as a result of pressure created by water within the ductwork. 
     
     
         20 . The inlet air duct of  claim 18 , wherein the pressure relief mechanism includes a door extending between a seat and a spring, and wherein the spring biases the door against the seat to seal the orifice. 
     
     
         21 . The inlet air duct of  claim 20 , wherein the spring is configured such that, when the predetermined pressure value is met or exceeded, pressure in the main conduit moves the door off of the seat so that the water can escape past the door and through the orifice. 
     
     
         22 . The inlet air duct of  claim 16  further comprising a moisture sensor, and wherein the moisture sensor is configured to detect moisture in the branch. 
     
     
         23 . The inlet air duct of  claim 22 , wherein the air inlet duct is configured such that air passing through the air inlet duct is used by the burner assembly to heat water in the water heater system, wherein the moisture sensor is configured to be used as an input for controlling a shutoff valve, and wherein the shutoff valve is configured to, after the moisture sensor detects moisture in the branch, shut off a water supply to the water heater system.