Heating assembly with recirculation loop for storage of heated liquid

Abstract

A heater assembly includes a housing that defines a reservoir, and an electric heater for heating a conductive fluid within the reservoir. The electric heater includes selectable electrodes, arrayed in such a way as to form channels that define a first fluidic path of a fluidic circuit within the reservoir of the heater assembly. The housing supports baffles that form a plurality of channels that define a second fluidic path within the reservoir that communicates with the first fluidic path to form the fluidic circuit. A recirculation pump is provided to pump the fluid through the fluidic circuit in a continuous loop to uniformly heat the fluid within the reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for heating water comprising:
 a heater assembly including an electric heater, a housing defining a water reservoir, and a continuous fluidic circuit defined within the water reservoir, the continuous fluidic circuit including a first fluidic path and a second fluidic path, the first fluidic path having an inlet and an outlet, the second fluidic path communicating with the first fluidic path and having an inlet and an outlet, the second fluidic path having a circuitous configuration, the electric heater positioned to heat water passing along the second fluidic path within the fluidic circuit;   a recirculation pump coupled to the fluidic circuit operable to recirculate fluid through the fluidic circuit; and   a controller operable to actuate the electric heater to supply heat to the water passing through the second fluidic path of the fluidic circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic path has a serpentine configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitous configuration of the second fluidic path is a serpentine configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric heater is an ohmic heater and includes two or more electrodes, the two or more electrodes defining a portion of the second fluidic path. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a sleeve that defines a cavity, and further including a heater support received within the cavity, the electric heater supported within the heater support. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the heater support includes baffles that define the first fluidic path. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic path encircles the second fluidic path, and the electric heater is centrally located with the water reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the second fluidic path is connected to the outlet of the first fluidic path, and the outlet of the second fluidic path is connected to the recirculation pump and to a faucet. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the inlet of the first fluidic path is adapted to be coupled to a water source. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a sleeve having a first end and a second end, a first pressure plate secured to the first end of the sleeve, a second pressure plate secured to the second end of the sleeve, a power cap secured to the first end of the sleeve, and an end cap secured to the second end of the sleeve, the power cap and the end cap defining portions of the first fluidic path and the second fluidic path. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a temperature sensor, the controller electrically coupled to the heater, the temperature sensor, and the recirculation pump and being operable to maintain the fluid at a setpoint temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluidic path is defined by channels, and the aspect ratio of each of the channels defining the second fluidic path is greater than 1. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the channels of the second fluidic path are configured, is such that the water flow through the second fluidic path has a Reynolds number of greater than 4000. 
     
     
         14 . A heater assembly comprising:
 a housing defining a water reservoir;   a fluidic circuit defined within the water reservoir having a first fluidic path and a second fluidic path, the first fluidic path having an inlet and an outlet, the second fluidic path communicating with the first fluidic path and having an inlet and an outlet, the second fluidic path having a circuitous configuration, the first fluidic path connected to the second fluidic path to facilitate recirculation of the water through the fluidic circuit; and   an electric heater positioned to heat the water passing along the second fluidic path;   wherein the inlet of the first fluidic path is adapted to be coupled to a water source and the outlet of the second fluid path is adapted to be connected to a faucet.   
     
     
         15 . The heater assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second fluidic path includes channels having aspect ratios greater than 1 and is configured such that water flow through the second fluidic path has a Reynolds number greater than 4000. 
     
     
         16 . The heater assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first fluidic path has a serpentine configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The heater assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the electric heater is an ohmic heater and includes two or more electrodes, the two or more electrodes defining a portion of the second fluidic path. 
     
     
         18 . The heater assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the housing includes a sleeve that defines a cavity, and further including a heater support received within the cavity, the electric heater supported within the heater support. 
     
     
         19 . The heater assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the heater support includes baffles that define the first fluidic path.  20  The heater assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first fluidic path encircles the second fluidic path, and the electric heater is centrally located with the water reservoir.