An electric water heater is described and wherein the bottom portion of the water holding tank is provided with various forms of electric heating elements to heat the water in the lowermost region of the tank adjacent the dome-shaped bottom wall to a temperature sufficient to prevent the proliferation of bacteria growth such as the Legionella bacteria in such lowermost region. The insulating foam support base of the water heater also provides a thermal barrier to the heating elements while biasing the heating element on the dome-shaped bottom wall in a region to insure excellent heat transfer to the cavitated zone surrounding the dome-shaped bottom wall where sedimentary deposits occur to create a culture medium for bacteria growth.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) and a method for recovering heat from a liquid medium (G), comprising: a heat exchanger (2) having at least two heat exchanger cells (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), which are thermally separate from each other, for receiving the liquid medium (G), wherein each of the heat exchanger cells (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) has a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of the liquid medium (G) located therein, at least one pipeline (4, 4.1) for conducting drinking water and/or heating water, which pipeline extends through at least one of the heat exchanger cells (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), a supply line (6), in which the liquid medium (G) is conducted, a number of controllable flaps (15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5), by means of which the liquid medium (G) can be selectively fed from the supply line (6) to the heat exchanger cells (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the liquid medium (G) in the supply line (6), wherein the flaps (15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5) are controlled in an open-loop and/or closed-loop manner such that the liquid medium (G) is supplied from the supply line (6) to the heat exchanger cell (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) that has a current temperature which is the least colder than the gray water (G) in the supply line (6).

A water heater system includes a controller configured to integrate control of both recovery and recirculation operations of a recovery pump and a recirculation pump. As such, a separate device, installation location, and power source (e.g., available outlet) is not needed with the controller. Because a single controller is configured to control both recovery and recirculation operations, additional control functions are available. The controller may be in communication with an internal controller of the water heater and configured to receive an error notification upon abnormal operation of the water heater. The controller can stop recovery and recirculation operations in response to an error notification, unlike with traditional water heating systems which may otherwise continue to function. The recovery and recirculation operations are based on a setpoint temperature of the water heater such that changes made to the setpoint temperature will automatically adjust in the recovery and recirculation operations.

A manifoldhead and expansion tank combination is provided. The manifoldhead comprises an outer housing having an inlet channel and an opposed outlet channel extending laterally from the manifoldhead and a connection means, surrounding a third opening from the outer housing, for sealably connecting the manifoldhead to the to the expansion tank. The manifoldhead further includes, secured internally within the outer housing, a baffle plate extending longitudinally within the manifoldhead and having an opening extending through the baffle plate, the opening being preferably aligned with the inlet and outlet channels. The baffle plate extending into AND through the third opening to continue to separate the flow moving through the entire expansion tank into inlet and outlet flows, entering and leaving the third opening. There is also preferably provided another set of baffles extending across the third opening limiting the inlet and outlet flows through the expansion tank. There are also provided recirculation systems for potable water that include a manifoldheaded expansion tank for providing both cool and heated potable water to a building where people live or work.

Systems and methods for dynamically collecting data from water heating appliances. A water heating system comprises a water heating appliance. The water heating appliance includes a controller having an electronic processor. The controller is configured to receive, in response to the water heating appliance being in a first operating mode, operational data of the water heating appliance at a first sampling rate. The controller is further configured to receive, in response to the water heating appliance being in a second operating mode, operational data of the water heating appliance at a second sampling rate.

The present invention describes a novel outdoor enclosure for circulating pumps for outdoor tankless heaters, outdoor boilers and other outdoor applications. The enclosure includes a body and a cover with the body attaching to the circulator motor. When closed, the enclosure keeps rainfall and other contaminates from entering the wiring space within the enclosure and the circulator motor. The body of the enclosure has multiple ports for electrical wiring inputs for power and for controls connections which can be made with flexible cords and/or hardwires. The outdoor enclosure can be equipped with a terminal strip to simplify wiring and/or with a timer to control when the circulator operates. To avoid problems associated with freezing, the enclosure may include a thermal device that turns the circulator on if temperatures drop. To secure the cover to the body, fastener tabs are included that can accept a screw or lock.

Recovery system for the recovery of thermal energy from waste water from building, which system comprises a heat pump adapted to absorb thermal energy from a non-freeze liquid circulating through the heat pump and arranged to deliver thermal energy to water flowing through the heat pump, a heat exchanger device that is in contact with said waste water, and a pipeline system disposed between the heat pump and the heat exchanger device, and in which non-freeze liquid can circulate. The heat exchanger device is designed so that the non-freeze liquid passes through the heat exchanger device, whereby the non-freeze liquid is able to absorb thermal energy from the waste water. Further, the system comprises a collector tank, and a pipeline system for supplying waste water to the collector tank. The heat exchanger device is disposed in the collector tank, wherein the non-freeze liquid can absorb thermal energy from waste water in the collector tank.

The present invention relates to a solar water heater (SWH) for producing hot water for domestic use, said SWH is inspired from the thermosiphon SWH to manufacture an SWH more efficient in winter and in summer. It is made up of two hot water storage tanks (17) (22) mounted in series in order to have an operating temperature as stable as possible, equipped with a guidance system for heating incoming cold water by passing through the collectors before entering the hot water storage tank (25-a) (25-b), a solar collector receiving solar radiation through its twin transparent faces (35) (36), stainless steel sheet mirrors that reflect the solar radiation applied to the collector through its rear transparent face (36) and a low energy consumption integrated circulator for gaining heat by cancelling out load losses that characterize the resistances to the passage of water in the SWH circuit (29).

A hot water supply system decouples an intelligent hot water storage system from a water heating engine system. The water heating engine system includes a plurality of instantaneous water heaters that provide for redundant operation for improved reliability. The intelligent hot water storage system includes a storage tank that encloses a volume for storage of water. The intelligent hot water storage system includes a recirculation loop driven by an integrated pump and operated by an integrated controller. By positioning the tank recirculation outlet and inlet farther apart from each other, additional usable volume of hot water is provided by the intelligent hot water storage system. Isolation valves positioned on the input and output of a recirculation pump in the recirculation loop facilitate repair or replacement of the recirculation pump. The hot water system provides for increased capacity while providing redundant heating engines in a smaller floor space than conventional systems.

An air conditioning system, comprising an outdoor unit (1) and an indoor heat exchange mechanism (2). The indoor heat exchange mechanism (2) comprises an air conditioner indoor unit (21) and a first heat exchange mechanism (3) used for at least one among water cooling, water heating and space heating. The present air conditioning system integrates various functions into one, such as air-conditioning refrigeration, air-conditioning heating, producing household cold water, producing household hot water, and home heating by means of connecting indoor units for cooling and heating, a water cooling mechanism, a water heating mechanism and a device for floor heating located indoors to one outdoor unit, thereby conserving space and facilitating installation. Moreover, the system directly utilizes high-temperature refrigerant to heat water for floor heating, which replaces coal heating and boiler heating, conserves energy and is environmentally friendly to a greater degree, and improves the living environment.