The present invention provides a method for operating a combined heat and power (CHP) plant comprising a heating boiler, a vaporizer, an expansion machine, and a condenser, achieved according to claim 1. The method comprises steps a), when a first condition is met: supplying a working medium to the vaporizer to obtain an at least partially evaporated working medium, feeding the (total) evaporated working medium to the expansion machine, and operating the expansion machine such that the working medium is expanded, supplying the working medium expanded by the expansion machine to the condenser, and transferring heat of the expanded working medium supplied to the condenser to a medium of a heating circuit designed to heat an object; and b) when a second condition is met which is different from the first condition: i) supplying at least a portion of the working medium to the condenser of the CHP plant without the portion of the working medium having been supplied to the expansion machine, and transferring heat of the working medium supplied to the condenser to a medium of a heating circuit designed to heat an object, and/or supplying a medium supplied from the heating boiler to the vaporizer to a heat transfer device in which heat is transferred from this medium to a medium of a heating circuit designed to heat an object.

A system for producing a heat source for heating or electricity, using medium/low-temperature waste heat includes: an absorption-type heat pump (100) supplied with a driving heat source and heat source water to heat a low-temperature heat medium; a regenerator heat exchange unit (210) for supplying a regenerator (110) with a driving heat source using waste heat; an evaporator heat exchange unit (220) for supplying an evaporator with heat source water; a heat medium circulation line (310) for circulating a heat medium; a generation unit (400) branching off from the heat medium circulation line (310) and producing electricity; a heat production unit (500) branching off from the heat medium circulation line (310) and supplying a heat-demanding place with a heat source for heating; and a switching valve unit (600) for controlling the flow of heat medium supplied the generation unit (400) or the heat production unit (500).

A temperature control apparatus for a building, the apparatus comprising: an electricity generator, operable to contribute to an electrical power supply for consumer appliances at the building; a heat transfer circuit adapted to circulate heat transfer fluid to cool the electricity generator; a heating system comprising a heat source for providing heat energy to a space heater for heating at least one zone of the building and to a hot water tank arranged to store a supply of hot water for the building, and a heat exchanger adapted to supplement the heat energy from the heat source with heat energy obtained from the heat transfer circuit; a user interface adapted to enable a user to select at least one of (a) a desired temperature for the at least one zone of the building, and a first time period during which the desired temperature is to be maintained; and (b) a second time period for the supply of hot water from the hot water tank; and the apparatus further comprising: a controller configured to determine when to operate the electricity generator based on at least one of: (i) the thermal capacity of the hot water tank; and (ii) the first time period, the desired temperature and the current temperature of the at least one zone of the building.

Synergistic Energy Ecosystem using a co-generation system and method wherein waste energy from waste heat producers within an enclosure including an electric generator is reclaimed to supply heat to the cold end of a heat pump within the enclosure for optimized use in space heating a habitat and to the management of the distribution of electricity from the generator so as to supply electricity to the habitat and to neighbouring habitats when efficient, cost-effective or required to do so by distribution policies managing the energy eco-system.

A boiler unit (100) housed in an enclosure, the boiler unit (100) configured to receive a solid state combined heat and power generating device (130). The boiler unit (100) comprises a heating device (110) to produce heat; and a control unit (120) to independently control each of the heating device (110) and the solid state combined heat and power generating device (130). The boiler unit (100) is operable without the solid state combined heat and power generating device (130) being present.

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.

A distributed solar power generation and hot water supplying system includes: a photovoltaic power generation self-service sun tracking system, an inverter, a controller, a storage battery, a heat-exchanging water tank and an electric heater provided therein, wherein a solar battery and a solar collector are mounted on the photovoltaic power generation self-service sun tracking system, an electricity output terminal of the photovoltaic power generation self-service sun tracking system is respectively connected to an inversing input terminal of an inverter and a surplus power supplying input terminal of a controller; an MCU-controlled power output terminal of the inverter is respectively connected for off-grid power consumption or grid-connected power generation, and to an inversing output terminal of the controller; a charging/discharging control output/input terminal inside the inverter is connected to an input/output terminal of the storage battery and a storage battery power supplying input terminal of the controller.

A stand-alone long-distance closed-loop heat energy capture, conveyance, and delivery system, comprises three closed-loop modules in serial communication. The first module is in communication with a first closed-loop piping infrastructure interconnected with a source of heat energy, and has a LBP liquid circulating therein whereby the LBP liquid is converted into its gas phase when flowing through the source of heat energy thereby capturing a portion of heat energy therefrom, and is converted into its liquid phase when flowing through a first heat exchanger that transfers the captured-heat energy to a second closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein also is circulating a LBP liquid. The second closed-loop module may extend for long distances. The captured-heat energy in the second module is transferred to a third closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein is also circulating a LBP liquid. The captured-heat energy is transferred from the third module to a delivery site.

A thermoelectric fan including: a heat collector; a thermoelectric generator (TEG) thermally coupled to the heat collector; a heat sink thermally coupled to the TEG and positioned to provide a temperature differential across the TEG; a motor in electrical communication with the TEG; a fan blade coupled to the motor and configured to generate a first airflow through the heat sink; and a heat sink shield configured to shield the heat sink from a second airflow, the second airflow having a higher temperature than the first airflow. The second airflow may be generated by the fan blade interacting with the first airflow. A heat sink shield for a thermoelectric fan wherein the heat sink shield is configured to attach to the thermoelectric fan and configured to at least partially shield the heat sink from a vorticity vector field and related air flows generated by the fan blade.

An evaporator with integrated heat recovery incorporates a vapor tube in a combustion chamber surrounded by a water jacket. The water jacket is in fluid communication with an exhaust gas heat exchanger. Coolant circulates in series or parallel first and second coolant flows through the exhaust gas heat exchanger to recover heat from exhaust gasses leaving the combustion chamber and through the water jacket surrounding the combustion chamber to recover heat not delivered to the operating fluid. The evaporator may incorporate a condenser within the housing and in fluid communication with the exhaust gas heat exchanger and/or water jacket. The evaporator may be divided to flow in parallel through the condenser the exhaust gas heat exchanger. The water jacket may be fluidly connected with one or the other of the condenser or the exhaust gas heat exchanger.