Chapter 39
Recovery Analysis of Domestic Electric
Storage Water Heaters
Emilia Fernández, Carolina Devoto, and Pedro Piñeyro
Abstract In this paper we provide an analysis of the recovery options for domestic
electric storage water heaters (DESWH), which are one of the most common devices
used to heat water in households of many countries around the world. The analysis considers the characteristics of the product and the condition of its components
regarding the functional and safety requirements in order to obtain a remanufactured
DESWH that looks as good as new. An inspection guide for determining the adequate
recovery option of a used DESWH is provided, with the flow and the detailed description of the operations needed. In addition, we suggest certain recommendations in the
design of a DESWH in order to improve its remanufacturing process. The economic
benefit related to the DESWHs recovery is illustrated by means of an analysis of the
solution obtained from a hybrid production-remanufacturing system that includes
the inspection of DESWHs with heterogenous quality and capacity constraints.
Keywords Electric water heaters · Remanufacturing · Inspection · Heterogeneous
returns · Optimization
39.1 Introduction
Domestic water heating refers to the process of warming water for personal use. A
wide variety of water heating methods are available today, but the most commonly
used type in households are storage tank water heaters. A well-suited appliance
for demand response is domestic electric storage water heater (DESWH), because
of their capability to store thermal energy. In the 1990s about 45 million of these
devices were installed in the EU, whereas 33.6% of them were located in Germany
(Lübkert et al. 2017). These appliances are the most common type of system for
residential water heating in Canada (Aguilar et al. 2005). DESWHs are the most
common method for satisfying hot water demand in Uruguayan homes, reaching
80% compared to other ones (Elenter 2018).
E. Fernández · C. Devoto · P. Piñeyro (B)
Department of Operations Research, Faculty of Engineering, Institute of Computer Science,
Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
e-mail: ppineyro@fing.edu.uy
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_39
589
Recovery Analysis of Domestic Electric
Storage Water Heaters
Emilia Fernández, Carolina Devoto, and Pedro Piñeyro
Abstract In this paper we provide an analysis of the recovery options for domestic
electric storage water heaters (DESWH), which are one of the most common devices
used to heat water in households of many countries around the world. The analysis considers the characteristics of the product and the condition of its components
regarding the functional and safety requirements in order to obtain a remanufactured
DESWH that looks as good as new. An inspection guide for determining the adequate
recovery option of a used DESWH is provided, with the flow and the detailed description of the operations needed. In addition, we suggest certain recommendations in the
design of a DESWH in order to improve its remanufacturing process. The economic
benefit related to the DESWHs recovery is illustrated by means of an analysis of the
solution obtained from a hybrid production-remanufacturing system that includes
the inspection of DESWHs with heterogenous quality and capacity constraints.
Keywords Electric water heaters · Remanufacturing · Inspection · Heterogeneous
returns · Optimization
39.1 Introduction
Domestic water heating refers to the process of warming water for personal use. A
wide variety of water heating methods are available today, but the most commonly
used type in households are storage tank water heaters. A well-suited appliance
for demand response is domestic electric storage water heater (DESWH), because
of their capability to store thermal energy. In the 1990s about 45 million of these
devices were installed in the EU, whereas 33.6% of them were located in Germany
(Lübkert et al. 2017). These appliances are the most common type of system for
residential water heating in Canada (Aguilar et al. 2005). DESWHs are the most
common method for satisfying hot water demand in Uruguayan homes, reaching
80% compared to other ones (Elenter 2018).
E. Fernández · C. Devoto · P. Piñeyro (B)
Department of Operations Research, Faculty of Engineering, Institute of Computer Science,
Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
e-mail: ppineyro@fing.edu.uy
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_39
589