A heat distribution system, method and computer program product, including an unpressurized tank configured for holding a heat transfer fluid; and one or more submersible heat transfer fluid pumps configured to pump the heat transfer fluid to one or more heat load loops respectively connected to the one or more heat transfer fluid pumps.

A portable solar collection apparatus and system describes an apparatus and system having a solar collector apparatus having a glaze and photovoltaic panel operatively coupled to a rectifier operatively coupled to a 12-volt battery and a circulation pump, the battery is operatively coupled to an inverter. The system and apparatus includes an insulator having a cold water compartment, a luke warm water compartment, and a hot water compartment. A circulation pump moves water through the rectifier and into the hot water compartment. A mixed temperature outlet receives some of the hot water mixed with cold for discharge. The outlet may be coupled to a shower head and/or stand for discharging water.

A method of heating water in a water storage tank. The method includes: selecting an outlet port and an inlet port from at least three ports located in the tank at different heights along a vertical direction. The outlet port is below the inlet port. The method further includes extracting water from the outlet port, supplying the extracted water to an external heat exchanger configured for heating the extracted water, and delivering heated water from the heat exchanger to the selected inlet port.

A heat source system managing device includes: a predicted heat demand upper limit calculating unit configured to calculate a predicted heat demand upper limit by adding a prediction error to a predicted heat demand value for a heat source system; an operation plan preparing unit configured to prepare an operation plan of the heat source system to supply heat of the predicted heat demand upper limit to a consuming facility; a surplus stored heat quantity calculating unit configured to repeatedly perform a process of calculating a surplus stored heat quantity by subtracting a heat quantity consumed by the consuming facility from the predicted heat demand upper limit; and an operation plan changing unit configured to sequentially change the operation plan by decreasing a future operation rate of a refrigerator to cancel the surplus stored heat quantity.

A boiler unit comprises an enclosure including: a first circuit of a first fluid heat exchange medium, the first circuit having a heating device to heat the first medium, a boost heat exchanger, a valve and a first manifold; a second circuit of a second heating system fluid heat exchange medium, the second circuit having a flow and return port of the boiler unit, a second manifold and said boost heat exchanger for exchange of heat between said first and second heat exchanger media when said valve is open; a space in the enclosure receiving an auxiliary unit to be driven substantially exclusively by said first fluid heat exchange medium; and a boiler control unit to control operation of the heating device according to heat demand of the heating device and otherwise irrespective of the auxiliary unit when connected; and an organic rankine cycle (ORC) unit comprising: a third fluid heat exchange medium circuit, the circuit including a condenser adapted for connection to said second manifold to provide heat to said second circuit, a pump to circulate said third medium, an evaporator adapted for connection to said first manifold to heat said third medium and a rotary expander connected to an electricity generator; and an auxiliary control unit to control the ORC unit and operate said valve.

A boiler unit comprises an enclosure including: a first circuit of a first fluid heat exchange medium, the first circuit having a heating device to heat the first medium, a boost heat exchanger, a valve and a first manifold; a second circuit of a second heating system fluid heat exchange medium, the second circuit having a flow and return port of the boiler unit, a second manifold and said boost heat exchanger for exchange of heat between said first and second heat exchanger media when said valve is open; a space in the enclosure receiving an auxiliary unit to be driven substantially exclusively by said first fluid heat exchange medium; and a boiler control unit to control operation of the heating device according to heat demand of the heating device and otherwise irrespective of the auxiliary unit when connected; and an organic rankine cycle (ORC) unit comprising: a third fluid heat exchange medium circuit, the circuit including a condenser adapted for connection to said second manifold to provide heat to said second circuit, a pump to circulate said third medium, an evaporator adapted for connection to said first manifold to heat said third medium and a rotary expander connected to an electricity generator; and an auxiliary control unit to control the ORC unit and operate said valve.

A solar liquid-heating-and-cooling system (20) includes: 1. a hot-liquid storage-tank (22); 2. a hot-liquid manifold-tank (26); 3. a coaxial heating-and-cooling-tube (24) that connects downward from the hot-liquid storage-tank (22) to the hot-liquid manifold-tank (26); 4. a double layer heating-and-cooling collector-array-panel (32) located beneath the hot-liquid manifold-tank (26), the panel (32) including, connected to the hot-liquid manifold-tank (26): a. an upper layer of glazed heating-tubes (36); and b. a lower layer of unglazed cooling-tubes (56); 5. parabolic-trough mirror reflectors (64) that are located between the upper and lower layers of tubes (36, 56); 6. cold-liquid manifold-tank (92) located below the panel (32) connected to lower ends both of the glazed heating-tubes (36) and of the unglazed cooling-tubes (56); 7. a cold liquid storage tank (98); and 8. a coaxial heating-and-cooling-tube (96) that connects downward from the cold-liquid manifold-tank (92) to the cold liquid storage tank (98).

An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, an input data connection, a feedback data connection, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to use a master-slave detection signal communicated via the feedback data connection to select an operating mode for the actuator from a set of multiple potential operating modes including a master operating mode and a slave operating mode. The processing circuit is configured to operate the mechanical transducer in response to a control signal received via the input data connection according to the selected operating mode.

A novel method is described for room heating using stored solar heat. Solar heat is stored in an insulated tank by using scrap and inexpensive heat absorbing or heat storing materials. Stored heat can then be extracted by air circulation for room heating. The temperature of the room air is controlled by a thermostat. When the room temperature drops below the set point on the thermostat, a circulating air pump turns on and extract the solar heat until the room temperature air reaches the desired set temperature. Once room temperature reaches the set point in the thermostat, the air circulation pump turns off.

Systems and methods for solar fluid heating in a multi-story building. A system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes solar collectors installed in solar-facing walls of the multi-story building, in which fluid receives thermal energy from the solar collectors. The system also includes fluid storage vessels. The system further includes a circulating pump coupled to the solar collectors to circulate the heated fluid between the solar collectors and the fluid storage vessels on a floor of the multi-story building.