A power generation system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell unit (101) including a fuel cell (11) and a case (12); a controller (102); a combustion unit (103) provided outside the case (12) and configured to combust a combustible gas to supply heat; and a discharge passage (70) configured to cause the fuel cell unit (101) and the combustion unit (103) to communicate with each other, wherein in a case where an exhaust gas is being discharged to the discharge passage (70) from one of the fuel cell unit (101) and the combustion unit (103) and the controller (102) changes the flow rate of the exhaust gas discharged from the other unit, the controller (102) controls at least the flow rate of the exhaust gas discharged from the other unit such that the flow rate of the exhaust gas discharged from the one unit becomes constant.

A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.

An installation for the production of cold and/or heat has a driving and a receiving machine. The driving machine has means for circulating a working fluid G.sub.M, an evaporator E.sub.M, at least one transfer cylinder CT.sub.M that contains a transfer liquid LT in a lower part and the working fluid G.sub.M liquid and/or vapor form above the transfer liquid, a condenser C.sub.M, at least one device BS.sub.M for separating the liquid and vapor phases of the working fluid G.sub.M, and a device for compressing the working fluid G.sub.M to the liquid state. The receiving machine has means for circulating a working fluid G.sub.R, a condenser C.sub.R, at least one device BS.sub.R for compressing or expanding and separating the liquid and vapor phases of the working fluid G.sub.R, optionally a pressure reducer D.sub.R, an evaporator E.sub.R, and at least one transfer cylinder CT.sub.R that contains the transfer liquid LT in a lower portion and the working fluid G.sub.R in liquid and/or vapor form above the transfer liquid; the transfer cylinders CT.sub.R and CT.sub.M are connected by at least one pipe that can be blocked by actuators and in which only the transfer liquid LT can circulate.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a cold and hot water supply and power generation system including a graphene-coated ceramic heating element, which can control temperatures of cold and hot water based on the graphene-coated ceramic heating element and a heat pump, use power generated by thermoelectric power generation based on a temperature difference between the cold and hot water, and supply the cold and hot water to a demand source or use the same for cooling and heating.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a cold and hot water supply and power generation system including a graphene-coated ceramic heating element, which can control temperatures of cold and hot water based on the graphene-coated ceramic heating element and a heat pump, use power generated by thermoelectric power generation based on a temperature difference between the cold and hot water, and supply the cold and hot water to a demand source or use the same for cooling and heating.

A method of determining an operating configuration of a water heater that includes: a power cord connected to a receptacle; a housing; a battery disposed within the housing, and a water tank configured to hold a volume of water and having one or more heating elements. The method includes obtaining power availability data; and determining an operating configuration including one of: a full power configuration where the water tank operates at a maximum power greater than 120V input voltage based on power from both the receptacle and the battery or power solely from the battery, and a reduced power configuration where the water tank operates at a reduced power less than the maximum power, based on power solely from the receptacle or power solely from the battery.

A method of determining an operating configuration of a water heater that includes: a power cord connected to a receptacle; a housing; a battery disposed within the housing, and a water tank configured to hold a volume of water and having one or more heating elements. The method includes obtaining power availability data; and determining an operating configuration including one of: a full power configuration where the water tank operates at a maximum power greater than 120V input voltage based on power from both the receptacle and the battery or power solely from the battery, and a reduced power configuration where the water tank operates at a reduced power less than the maximum power, based on power solely from the receptacle or power solely from the battery.

A heat exchanger having a helix coil incorporated into a stainless steel elongated variable diameter cylindrical housing and a radial direct-firing burner and a blower-driven hot flue gas to heat water. A buffer tank is incorporated within the lumen of the helix coil. At least one rope seal is disposed between adjacent coil loops of a portion of the helix coil for enhancing heat transfer to the helix coil. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger further comprises a Stirling engine comprised of a free piston having hot and cold ends that is disposed within the cavity taken up the buffer tank, wherein the hot end receives heat from the burner and the cold end is cooled by the incoming cold water line to form an electric power generator.

An air-treatment apparatus is for use with a building having a building air-duct circuit. The air-treatment apparatus includes an air-handler assembly configured to urge the flow of heat along the building air-duct circuit of the building. A vapour-expansion cycle assembly is configured to receive heat from the air-handler assembly. The vapour-expansion cycle assembly is also configured to circulate a refrigerant in response to the refrigerant receiving the heat from the air-handler assembly. This is done in such a way that the heat, in use, urges the refrigerant to circulate, and the refrigerant that circulates is used to generate alternating-current electricity.

A heat pump hot-water supply system includes a heat pump hot-water supply device, an electricity storage device, and a control device. The control device determines an operating time zone of the heat pump hot-water supply device based on power conversion efficiency of the electricity storage device, coefficients of performance of the heat pump hot-water supply device of a current day and a next day, and an electricity rate structure of a commercial power system.