Multi-voltage water heater appliance

Abstract

A water heater appliance may include a housing, a tank, a refrigeration system, and a controller. The tank may be attached to the housing. The tank may define an interior volume. The refrigeration system may include a sealed refrigerant loop in thermal communication with the tank to heat the interior volume. The controller may be operably coupled to the refrigeration system. The controller may be configured to direct a heater operation. The heater operation may include determining a voltage input for the water heater appliance, selecting, based on the determined voltage input, an operational mode from a plurality of predetermined mode options that include a high-voltage mode and a low-voltage mode, and directing the refrigeration system according to the selected operational mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater appliance comprising:
 a housing;   a tank attached to the housing, the tank defining an interior volume;   a refrigeration system comprising a sealed refrigerant loop in thermal communication with the tank to heat the interior volume; and   a controller operably coupled to the refrigeration system, the controller being configured to direct a heater operation comprising:
 determining a voltage input for the water heater appliance, 
 selecting, based on the determined voltage input, an operational mode from a plurality of predetermined mode options, the plurality of predetermined mode options comprising a high-voltage mode and a low-voltage mode, and 
 directing the refrigeration system according to the selected operational mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system comprises a direct current (DC) compressor. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein determining the voltage input comprises measuring the voltage input at the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein determining the voltage input comprises receiving a selection signal at a user input of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water heater appliance further comprises a quick-change plug selectively connected to the housing in selective electrical communication with the controller. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 5 , wherein determining the voltage input comprises detecting a predetermined plug type of the quick-change plug. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric heating element in thermal communication with the tank to the interior volume, wherein the high-voltage mode permits simultaneous operation of the refrigeration system and the electric heating element. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric heating element in thermal communication with the tank to the interior volume, wherein the low-voltage mode restricts simultaneous operation of the refrigeration system and the electric heating element. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric heating element in thermal communication with the tank to the interior volume,
 wherein the high-voltage mode comprises a predetermined first heating rate for the electric heating element,   wherein the low-voltage mode comprises a predetermined second heating rate for the electric heating element, and   wherein the predetermined second heating rate is less than the predetermined first heating rate.   
     
     
         10 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric heating element in thermal communication with the tank to the interior volume, wherein the selected operational mode is one of the high-voltage mode and the low-voltage mode,
 wherein the voltage input is a first voltage input, and   wherein the heater operation further comprises:
 determining a second voltage input for the water heater appliance following directing the electric heating element and the refrigeration system according to the one of the high-voltage mode and the low-voltage mode, 
 selecting, based on the determined second voltage input, the other of the high-voltage mode and the low-voltage mode, and 
 directing the electric heating element and the refrigeration system according to the other of the high-voltage mode and the low-voltage mode. 
   
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a water heater appliance, the method comprising:
 determining a voltage input for the water heater appliance;   selecting, based on the determined voltage input, an operational mode from a plurality of predetermined mode options, the plurality of predetermined mode options comprising a high-voltage mode and a low-voltage mode; and   directing a refrigeration system of the water heater appliance according to the selected operational mode.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigeration system comprises a direct current (DC) compressor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the voltage input comprises measuring the voltage input at a controller of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the voltage input comprises receiving a selection signal at a user input of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the water heater appliance further comprises a quick-change plug selectively connected to a housing of the water heater appliance in selective electrical communication with a controller of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining the voltage input comprises detecting a predetermined plug type of the quick-change plug. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the high-voltage mode permits simultaneous operation of the refrigeration system and an electric heating element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the low-voltage mode restricts simultaneous operation of the refrigeration system and an electric heating element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the high-voltage mode comprises a predetermined first heating rate for an electric heating element,
 wherein the low-voltage mode comprises a predetermined second heating rate for the electric heating element, and   wherein the predetermined second heating rate is less than the predetermined first heating rate.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the selected operational mode is one of the high-voltage mode and the low-voltage mode,
 wherein the voltage input is a first voltage input, and   wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a second voltage input for the water heater appliance following directing the refrigeration system according to the one of the high-voltage mode and the low-voltage mode; 
 selecting, based on the determined second voltage input, the other of the high-voltage mode and the low-voltage mode; and 
 directing the refrigeration system according to the other of the high-voltage mode and the low-voltage mode.