A method to distribute water from a private water tank to a user site includes connecting the private water tank to three parallel low pressure Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) pumps, two parallel high pressure VFD pumps, a pressure reducing valve (PRV), a tank level control valve, a flow meter, two pressure gauges, and two pressure transducers; controlling the three parallel low and two high pressure VFD pumps using a PLC programmed with at least first, second, and third low pressure pump set operation curves (LPPSOCs) each specifying a low pressure pump operation set point (B) and a PRV operation set point (F) at each of first, second, and third flow rates and first and second high pressure pump set operation curves (HPPSOCs) each specifying a high pressure pump operation set point (G) and a high pressure pump energizing set point (E) at each of fourth and fifth flow rates.

A system for heating a first fluid flow from a first temperature to a second temperature, the system including a hot water supply line for receiving the first fluid flow at a first end and exhausting the first fluid flow at a second end; and a heating system including a heat engine, a thermal battery and a heat exchanger, wherein the thermal battery is configured to be replenished at a point of heat transfer by the heat engine and the hot water supply line is configured to receive heat from the thermal battery via the heat exchanger to elevate the temperature of the first fluid flow from the first temperature to the second temperature.

A heated water recirculation system includes a water heater having a water inlet and a water outlet. The heated water recirculation system further includes a flow detector positioned to detect inflow water flowing into the water heater through the water inlet. The heated water recirculation system also includes a controller configured to control operations of a recirculation pump based on a detection of the inflow water flowing into the water heater through the water inlet. The water heater is configured to provide heated water through the water outlet, and the recirculation pump is configured to circulate the heated water through the heated water recirculation system.

Apparatus and methods for improved hot water flushing of a water supply system.

Disclosed is a method for detecting domestic hot water use by a sanitary fitting during an observation period by analysing data relative to volumes of water passing through a water meter, the method including: receiving a first item of data, noted V1, representing the maximum volume of fluid measured over a predetermined period, preferably equal to 5 minutes; receiving a second item of data, noted V2, representing the maximum volume of fluid measured by the meter during another predetermined period, preferably equal to 15 minutes; and detecting that domestic hot water has been used when V1>15 litres and V220 litres.

Disclosed is a method for detecting domestic hot water use by a sanitary fitting during an observation period by analysing data relative to volumes of water passing through a water meter, the method including: receiving a first item of data, noted V1, representing the maximum volume of fluid measured over a predetermined period, preferably equal to 5 minutes; receiving a second item of data, noted V2, representing the maximum volume of fluid measured by the meter during another predetermined period, preferably equal to 15 minutes; and detecting that domestic hot water has been used when V1>15 litres and V220 litres.

A fluid heating device includes a housing defining an inner volume. A combustion chamber configured to produce heat via combustion such that heat produced by the combustion chamber is transferred to a fluid in the inner volume, and a flue is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and in thermal communication with the inner volume. An electrical heating device is configured to provide heat to the fluid in the inner volume, and a thermoelectric generator is in electrical communication with the electrical heating device. The thermoelectric generator is connected to the flue such that a heat difference between the inner volume of the housing and the interior portion of the flue enables the thermoelectric generator to generate electricity.

A water heater includes a water tank and a flow-through heating element. The water tank contains heated water. The flow-through heating element is located in the lower portion of the water tank and heats water as water is passed through an interior channel of the heating element. In another configuration, the water heater further includes a recirculation line and the heating element further includes an input end external of the water tank to receive water to be heated and an output end to output heated water into the water tank. The recirculation line transports water from the water tank to the input end of the heating element that is external of the water tank.

The present disclosure provides a water storage tank and a gas water heater. The water storage tank includes: a tank body provided with an interface at one end; an adapter provided with a water inlet connector, a water outlet connector, and a waste discharge connector; and a connection pipe installed in the tank body, one end of the connection pipe communicating with the water outlet connector, another end of the connection pipe being spaced apart from an end of the tank body away from the interface.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring heat energy from a waste-liquid, wherein the apparatus (100) comprises at least one heat exchange element (107) for transferring heat energy from waste liquid in a first container (101) to a first target fluid, at least one heat pump element (111) for transferring heat energy from waste-liquid transferred from the first container to the further container (102), at least one selectively operable exit-valve element (115) for selectively providing at least one fluid communication path for allowing waste-liquid to exit from the further container, and at least one controller element for selectively operating the heat pump element to transfer heat energy from waste-liquid in the further container to a further target fluid and/or for selectively operating the at least one selectively operable exit-valve element.