2162results about "Domestic hot-water supply system" patented technology

A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control are disclosed. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation.

A digital fluid heating system may include a solar collection system configured for focusing sunlight on a focal axis, an elongated flow element arranged and configured for transporting fluid along the solar collection system at the focal axis, and a flow-control assembly comprising a digitally controlled valve configured to control the flow of the fluid in the elongated flow element such that pathogens present in the fluid are substantially inactivated before the fluid exits the fluid heating system and at a maximized flow rate under the given energy providing conditions. The system may also include one or more digital controls and communication systems for remote and / or automatic control.

A method for operating a multi-family / commercial plumbing system includes sensing an event and recording for each sensed event at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of date, day of the week, start time, duration of the event, water flow, water temperature, and humidity. The parameters are analyzed to determine a pattern and thereafter water flow, circulation, water temperature, and water use are controlled in accordance with the determined pattern.

A water heater includes combustion means (burner) that combusts fuel and generates exhaust; heat exchange means (primary heat exchanger and secondary heat exchanger) that exchanges heat of the exhaust for supplied water; bypassing means (bypass pipe) that makes the supplied water flow to an outlet of the heat exchange means; exchanged heat temperature detection means (exchanged heat temperature sensor) that detects temperature of the supplied water after heat exchange; flow rate adjustment means (bypass valve) that adjusts a volume of the supplied water flowing into the bypassing means and the heat exchange means; and a control unit that controls the flow rate adjustment means so as to make a predetermined volume of the supplied water or over flow to the heat exchange means.

The present invention provides a method, an apparatus and chemical products for treating petroleum equipment wherein a fluid is flowing, preferably of the hydrocarbon type, and wherein treating is performed by establishing a closed or semi-closed flow circulation loop, during the normal production operations of the equipment. The treatment can refer to the cleaning of equipment, to yield improvement as compared to normal run conditions and / or to a reduction of coke formation and / or to coke removal on catalysts.

A representatively pumpless water heater system has an instantaneous water heater coupled in series with a storage water heater by piping circuitry incorporating a bypass valve and a mixing valve and useable to route pressurized incoming cold water sequentially through the instantaneous and storage type heaters. A control system (1) operates the bypass valve to cause a selectively variable portion of the incoming cold water to bypass the instantaneous heater and flow to the mixing valve, and (2) operates the mixing valve to blend the bypassed cold water with hot water exiting the storage heater to maintain a predetermined temperature of heated water exiting the system. Another system embodiment adds a directional bypass valve operable by the control system to selectively divert to the mixing valve a portion of the heated water exiting the instantaneous heater for delivery to the storage heater.

A system for providing a user with water at a desired temperature comprising a piping system that includes a hot water pipe and a cold water pipe, a pump coupled to the piping system and a smart water delivery device coupled to the piping system and to the pump and operative to allow circulation of water from the hot water pipe to the cold water pipe prior to delivery of water at a desired temperature to the user. The smart water delivery device includes two smart valves coupled to hot and cold water inlets, a smart outlet valve coupled to a device outlet, a microcontroller for controlling the actuation of the pump and of the smart valves, and at least one temperature sensor coupled to the microcontroller and used for sensing the water temperature.

A water heating control and storage system, including an insulated tank for containing water to be heated. The tank has at least two heating elements, including an upper heating element and a lower heating element. An operation control device receives a demand response signal and enables each element to independently heat water for usage. A method for controlling a water heating storage system includes providing an insulated tank for containing water to be heated; providing an upper heating element with a thermostat and thermal limiting device and a lower heating element with a thermostat and thermal limiting device to heat upper and lower portions of water inside the tank; and providing a pair of switches for enabling each of the heating elements to independently heat upper and lower portions of the water for usage.

Disclosed herein is a heat exchange apparatus, which comprises a hollow blade member having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet and a first fluid passageway for a first fluid that extends between the inlet and the outlet. The blade member is sized and shaped to be located in a second fluid passageway for a second fluid. The blade member is configured to enhance thermal energy transfer between the fluids as they flow along their respective passageways.

A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a temperature sensor, a temperature control element, memory, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the liquid residing within the tank, and the temperature control element is coupled to the tank. The memory stores data indicative of a usage history of the tank, and the logic is configured to automatically control the temperature control element based on the data.

The present invention relates to a heating element controller 100 for a liquid heating system arranged to determine the duty cycle of a heating element 106 and modulate the timepoint of heating initiation by the heating element 106 in dependence upon an expected duration of completing the heating process and upon a required time at which the heating process is to be completed, wherein said expected duration is determined in dependence on said duty cycle. The invention extends to a heating element controller comprising means for computing a fouling parameter and means for controlling the operation of the heating element in dependence upon the fouling parameter. The invention extends to a system for heating liquids comprising at least one heating element associated with a liquid vessel, and preferably the heating element is moveable in the vessel, or alternatively the system for heating liquids may comprise a plurality of heating elements.

An improved heat exchanger design is disclosed. The design of the heat exchanger provides for a safe separation of the flow streams even in the event of leakage. An improved heat recovery device for use in the drain conduit of standard shower installations, comprising the heat exchanger of the invention, is also disclosed.

Described is a modular thermal energy transfer system. The modular thermal energy transfer system includes a plurality of modular thermal units, each modular thermal unit having a thermal retainer with a conditioning pipe and a usable fluid pipe disposed therein. The conditioning pipes are in fluidic communication with one another, and the usable fluid pipes are in fluidic communication with one another. The conditioning pipes are adapted to carry a conditioning fluid therethrough and to allow transfer of thermal energy between the thermal retainers and the conditioning fluid. The usable fluid pipes are adapted to carry a usable fluid therethrough and to allow the transfer of thermal energy between the thermal retainers and the usable fluid. The various thermal retainers of the modular thermal units are configured to be positionable proximate one another such that thermal energy is transferable between substantially adjacent thermal retainers.

An instant hot water delivery system for efficiently heating water when necessary to provide instant hot water to a faucet. The instant hot water delivery system generally includes a water heater including an inlet and an outlet, a cold water supply line introducing cold water into the inlet, a hot water supply line connecting the outlet to a faucet and a recirculation line connected to the hot water supply downstream of the outlet and the cold water supply line upstream of the inlet. The recirculation line forms a first recirculation loop for water within the water heater to flow during a first water heating process. A recirculation pump is connected to the cold water supply line between the local recirculation line and the inlet for circulating the water during the water heating process.

In a refrigeration cycle device in which heat generated by heat absorption of an evaporator is used for heating in a condenser, a disadvantage that a cooling capacity of the evaporator deteriorates owing to shortage or drop of an amount of the heat to be rejected from the condenser is securely avoided and a cooling function is maintained. In the refrigeration cycle device which is provided with a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator and which exhibits a heating function by the heat rejected from the condenser and which exhibits the cooling function by the heat absorption of the evaporator, an operation to secure a predetermined amount of the heat to be rejected from the condenser is executed in order to maintain the cooling function of the evaporator based on an index capable of grasping the amount of the heat to be rejected from the condenser.

A tankless water heating auxiliary system for a solar water heating system, includes a solar collector; a tankless water heater auxiliary system; an insulated water storage tank storing the potable water; a heat exchange system for heating stored water; and piping for connecting the collector, the storage tank and the heat exchanger in fluid communication. A first sensor is connected to and located adjacent the storage tank for sensing the temperature of the stored water at an outlet of the tank. A method for controlling initiation of heating in a tankless water heater auxiliary system, includes monitoring operation of a tankless water heater; measuring water flow using a water flow sensor to determine if water flow rate exceeds a use determined flow rate; implementing a control time delay into the tankless water heater to purge water from the heater and sense the inlet water supply temperature; measuring the water temperature using a heat exchanger outgoing thermistor; comparing the temperature measured by the thermistor to a predetermined temperature; and initiating a combustion sequence if the temperature measured by the outgoing themistor is less than the predetermined temperature.

A heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger includes an outer sleeve and a microchannel unit. The outer sleeve has an interior surface defining a cavity and an exterior surface configured to be in direct thermal communication with the first fluid. The microchannel unit is received in the cavity. The microchannel unit has a plurality of microchannels configured to receive the second fluid therein and be in direct thermal communication with the second fluid. The microchannel unit has an exterior surface in direct thermal communication with the interior surface of the outer sleeve to transfer heat therebetween. At least one of the interior surface of the outer sleeve and the exterior surface of the microchannel unit has grooves defining breach channels for the first fluid or the second fluid should a breach in the outer sleeve or the microchannel unit occur.

The invention relates to micro distributed solar-driven combined cooling heating and power system belonging to field of energy technology. The invention includes: solar collection system, organic Rankine cycle thermal power generation system, adsorption refrigeration system, heating and hot water system, hot water distribution system, control system, secondary combustion device. The solar collection system is connected to the pipe of the hot water distribution and control system via the secondary combustion device, and the organic Rankine cycle thermal power generation system and the adsorption refrigeration system and the heating and hot water system are parallel connected to downstream of the hot water distribution and control system via pipes. The invention provides hot water by employing the vacuum tube solar water heater, and provides electricity by using ORC generation system, and provides cold water used by air conditioner and hot water by using the adsorption refrigeration system; the regulation and control on the hot water distribution system is user-oriented, and the system generates electricity, refrigerates, heats based on user requirement, and the system prepares the secondary combustion device to suffice the requirement when illumination is inadequate or user requirement is overlarge.

A method of operating a plumbing system having a circulating pump includes sensing activation of the pump and recording for each sensed activation at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of date, day of the week, start time, duration of pump activation, hot water flow, and temperature and cold water flow in temperature. The parameters are analyzed to determine a pattern of pump activity and thereafter the pump is activated in accordance with the determined pattern.

A fluid heat exchange system with a fluid flow circuit having a heat exchange fluid flow loop, a heat absorption component (as in a domestic hot water tank inclusive of small commercial use tanks as in tanks of 20 to 120 gallons), a heat exchanger and preferably also a pump. A controlled and automated fuel supply source based heater (as in a pellet stove) is in heat passage communication with the said heat exchanger. A control unit triggers activation of the pump upon fluid in the heat absorption component reaching or dropping below a preset temperature, and the fluid flow circuit is arranged such that, during times of non-activation of the pump, fluid is free to flow in a unidirectional flow within the fluid circuit based on thermodynamic temperature differentials alone. A retrofitting of a domestic hot water tank is also featured preferably making use of preexisting drain and safety vent porting for in-feed and out-feed porting in the exchange loop side. Also, the flow circuit preferably is free of check valves and steam accommodation equipment.

An apparatus for heating water has a tank for storing water and an air conditioning system that defines a refrigerant flow path through which refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow path passes through the heat exchanger so that refrigerant heat is contributed to the tank. A control system controls operation of the water heating apparatus.

Water heater apparatus includes a tank for storing water; a heat exchanger associated with the tank and being operative to receive refrigerant and transfer heat therefrom to the tank, the heat exchanger representatively being a heat conductive tube externally wrapped around the tank in heat conductive contact therewith; air conditioning apparatus operative to utilize refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant circuit portion of the air conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit portion being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; and a control system operative to selectively cause a portion of the flowing refrigerant to pass through the heat exchanger, or cause essentially the entire flow of the refrigerant to bypass the heat exchanger.

The invention relates to a low temperature solar energy-biomass energy combined heat and power system and a generating process. The system comprises a heat transfer fluid (such as heat transfer oil, ionic liquid, and water) circulation loop, a working medium circulation loop of an organic Rankine cycle, a heating furnace smoke discharge pipeline, a hot water heating loop and a cooling water loop. A heating furnace is used for supplementing heat for the heat transfer fluid or used as a standby heat source, and the heating surface uses dimethyl ether, heavy oil, biomass or low-grade cheap fuel made from the biomass; propane (R290), pentafluoropropane (R245fa) and the like are used as circulation working media; the exhaust heat regeneration quantity of the organic Rankine cycle can be adjusted according to the heating demand of a user; and a solar concentrator of the system is a solar concentration and waste heat recovery integrated vacuum flat-plate concentrator with a heat regenerating measure at the bottom, and the waste heat of exhaust smoke of the heating furnace can be recovered while fully using solar energy. The system can directly and efficiently convert a large quantity of low-grade biomass fuel and low-density solar energy into electric energy and supplies heat to users at the same time.

A system and method for detecting and anticipating fluid flow in a pipe utilizing a sensor, a processor, and a time base.

A water-dispensing appliance is provided, in particular for dispensing drinking water, comprising a water inlet which can be connected to a water-supply device, also comprising a dispensing device with a water outlet, via which water can be dispensed from the appliance, the dispensing device being connected to the water inlet via a main line which has a downstream portion and an upstream portion, and also comprising a water heater. The water-dispensing appliance has a return line, of which the start is line-connected to the downstream portion of the main line and the end is connected to the upstream portion of the main line, and the appliance also has a delivery unit in order for water heated up by means of the water heater to be delivered through the main line from the upstream portion to the downstream portion.

In most homes today, when a person turns on a hot water faucet, he or she must wait for residual cold water to flow out of the hot water pipe as hot water travels from the water heater to the faucet. That residual cold water typically goes down the drain. In some buildings, recirculating hot water systems keep hot water flowing in a loop, thereby making hot water immediately available and eliminating the waste of residual hot water, but these systems waste energy from thermal radiation in the hot water pipes at times when no hot water is being utilized. The invention conserves both water and energy by controlling the recirculation of residual cold water by means of momentary activation of any hot water faucet, and also by programmed time-of-day intervals, whereupon the pump replaces the residual cold water with hot water and recirculates the residual cold water, and then turns off so as to avoid energy waste from running hot water through the loop at times it is not needed. The invention provides for fast installation of the pump, detector, and controller on the hot water outlet side of the water heater. It can be used in buildings that have separate hot water return pipes, and it can also be used in configurations where existing cold water pipes are used for the return of hot water.

A solar-powered fluid heating system, having a thermal collector, a unitary water conducting assembly, and heat retention and efficiency components that are all included in a framework so as to provide a unitary construction. The framework includes a frame structure having non-conductive receptacles for receiving the edge marginal regions of the thermal conductor, so as to be free-floating to allow for thermal expansion and reduction of stresses on components as well as the heat resistant and enhancing components. The arrangement within the frame structure includes a dimpled or waffled metal water conducting assembly that rests upon a layer of insulation material held in the framing structure by a back sheet. The opposite side of the water conducting component is a solar selective sheet having a blackened surface upon which a thermal collector is disposed. The thermal collector includes an array of solar cells, deployed in either serial, parallel or a combination thereof, in an electrical array and which is encapsulated or enclosed by a pair of transparent sheets. A sheet of film is placed on top of the thermal collector, followed by a low glass panel arranged in fixed, spaced-apart relationship with respect to the film sheet. The edge marginal regions of all of the above components are carried in the side and ends of the frame structure and are held in position by spaced-apart, non-conductive receptacles for holding edge marginal regions of the components, and the receptacles are in spaced-apart relationship, so that the components are organized to be held in an augmenting and efficiency enhancing arrangement.

The system is unique in that a structure's plumbing lines are effectively routed, to stop energy and water waste, while adding little to construction cost. Water pressure to hot water supply (50) is controlled through a selectable flow control valve (10). A hot water manifold (3) and check valves 42 and 43 produce a dual line connection, between hot water manifold (3) and the hot water use area. In the water saver mode, positioning selectable flow control valve (10) causes pump (4) to draw water from distribution conduit (6), through selectable flow control valve (10), through cold water manifold (12) and solenoid valve (37) to hot water supply (50). Pump (4) causes hot water to fill distribution conduit (6), to the hot water use area. This circulation delivers hot water to replace water standing in the line. Circulation period is determined by controller (22). When selectable flow control valve (10) is positioned to the use mode, supply pressure at cold water conduit (28) is applied through selectable flow control valve (10), then via cold water manifold (12), to hot water supply (50). Positioning selectable flow control valve (10) to the energy saver mode causes, cold water pressure to be interrupted to hot water supply (50) and directed through feedback conduit (72) and conduit (71), to a junction down stream from hot water manifold (3). Supply pressure forces hot water towards open hot water outlet (45), thus all hot water delivered from hot water manifold (3) is utilized.