Provided is an hybrid solar heat absorption cooling system comprising: an absorption refrigerator; a solar heat steam generator configured to generate steam using solar heat; a daytime steam supplying unit configured to supply steam generated by the solar heat steam generator during the day as a heat source for the absorption refrigerator; a daytime hot water storage tank configured to store hot water discharged from the absorption refrigerator during the day; a nighttime hot water supplying unit configured to supply hot water stored in the daytime hot water storage tank during the night as a heat source for the absorption refrigerator; a nighttime hot water storage tank configured to store hot water discharged from the absorption refrigerator during the night; and a daytime hot water supplying unit configured to supply hot water stored in the nighttime hot water storage tank during the day to the solar heat steam generator.

Disclosed is an expansion tank having an internal cavity separated by a flexible diaphragm to form an upper pressurized gas portion and a lower pressurized fluid portion, and an indicator positioned at an upper part of the expansion tank in communication with the contents of the upper pressurized gas portion. The indicator is configured so as to display a first color if the operating conditions are normal in the pressurized gas portion, and a second color if the amount of moisture detected in the pressurized gas portion greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. Further disclosed is a method for detecting whether there is an excessive amount of moisture in a pressurized gas portion of an expansion tank by allowing pressurized gas from the pressurized gas portion to come into contact with the indicator, and viewing the color displayed by the indicator. As such, the tank can be simply visually inspected to determine whether there is a potential failure in the tank.

A highly versatile control system which is able to control devices in a linked manner is provided. The control system is configured to condition air of a single space 9, and includes: an air conditioner 2 and a floor heating apparatus 3 which cannot directly communicate with each other; a router 4 which is able to communicate with the air conditioner 2 and the floor heating apparatus 3 via communication lines 11 and 12; and a terminal device 5 which is connectable to the Internet 10 and is able to communicate with the router 4 via a communication line 13. The air conditioner 2 and the floor heating apparatus 3 are controlled in a linked manner by a control signal sent from the terminal device 5 via the router 4.

A highly versatile control system which is able to control devices in a linked manner is provided. The control system is configured to condition air of a single space 9, and includes: an air conditioner 2 and a floor heating apparatus 3 which cannot directly communicate with each other; a router 4 which is able to communicate with the air conditioner 2 and the floor heating apparatus 3 via communication lines 11 and 12; and a terminal device 5 which is connectable to the Internet 10 and is able to communicate with the router 4 via a communication line 13. The air conditioner 2 and the floor heating apparatus 3 are controlled in a linked manner by a control signal sent from the terminal device 5 via the router 4.

A heat pump includes an electric motor driven by input electric power, a first compressor mechanically connected to the electric motor and compresses air, a first heat exchanger performing heat exchange between compressed air produced by the first compressor and water, and a first hot water outlet through which the water heated by heat exchange in the first heat exchanger is taken out. Thus, in the air refrigerant heat pump, it is possible to use only air and water to supply heating by applying part of compressed air energy storage technology to the heat pump.

An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to an integrated system for heat distribution among a plurality of users. In some embodiments, the system includes a separate automatic control of heat distribution to each user and/or separate billing to each user. For example, a system may supply hot fluid to a plurality of apartments in a building and/or in multiple buildings. Optionally, each apartment has separate remote controlled valves controlling flow of heated fluid to the apartment and/or a sensor sensing how much heat enters and leaves the apartment in the hot fluid. In some embodiments, a processor controls the valve and/or receives data from sensors. The processor optionally controls devices that generate and/or store and/or dissipate heat. Optionally the processor predicts energy availability, costs and needs controls valves and/or devices to provide for predicted and/or unexpected needs while reduce cost of the energy.

In one aspect, a photovoltaic energy and thermal energy generated water and heat supply integral unit includes a photovoltaic energy accumulator, a photovoltaic hot plates, a thermal energy vacuum-boiler and water-use sites. The photovoltaic energy accumulator is connected with photovoltaic hot plates. A water outlet of the photovoltaic energy accumulator is connected with a water inlet of thermal energy vacuum boiler. The water outlet of thermal energy vacuum boiler is connected with a water inlet of photovoltaic energy accumulator. When in use, the photovoltaic hot plate to absorb surrounding light energy and transform it into electrical energy for heating water, and surplus energy is to be stored in the photovoltaic energy accumulator. Meanwhile, the thermal energy module of the thermal energy vacuum boiler is used to generate thermal energy to effectively use the renewable resources from the surrounding environment.

Pyramidal housing autonomous and suitable for different environmental conditions. Its pyramidal structure (1) is made up of metal profiles (10) that include corner pillars (10a), side pillars (10b), beams or cross structures of mezzanine (17)(19) and rafters that form the openings (4), being the pillars anchored to the foundation beam (13); over this structure, the outer covers (15) that form the pyramidal walls (15a) are mounted; in the blind sections of the outer cover (15) of the upper floor there are mounting supports (32) for arrangements of solar panels (30), while at the apex (12) there is a wind energy generator; other blind sectors allow the mounting of a solar heater (50).

A component (1, 7, 10, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 35) has a profiled front face (4, 8, 11, 16, 23, 26, 30, 41) and a rear face (5, 24, 34) and at least one fluid line (6, 9, 12, 14, 19, 27, 31, 38, 40). The component (1, 7, 10, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 35) is designed to allow a fluid present in the fluid line (6, 9, 12, 14, 19, 27, 31, 38, 40) to heat up when the front face (4, 8, 11, 16, 23, 26, 30, 41) is irradiated with sunlight.

A method for determining whether hot water is used during heating of an air handler system which uses a water heater as a heat source and supplies hot air through a duct for heating is disclosed. The method includes: (a) detecting a flow rate change of tap water supplied to the water heater; (b) detecting a temperature change of the tap water supplied to the water heater; and (c) determining that hot water is used during heating when the flow rate change of the tap water in step (a) and the temperature change of the tap water in step (b) are detected at the same time.