Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring hot water supply in a load control network, and more particularly for ensuring that there is sufficient hot water available for a customer participating in a demand response program that uses, at least in part, water heaters as a component of the demand response program. A multi-meter that is external to the water heater is used to monitor an electrical power supply circuit on the water heater, to report preferably volts, amps, and power factor of the water heater. The multi-meter may use these measured values to, in turn, determine a current charge state of the water heater and thus ensure maintenance of an adequate supply of hot water, even in times of demand response curtailment.

A plasma generator includes a cathode, an anode, and a stabilizing electrode. The stabilizing electrode stabilises a region of plasma within a fluid. Methods of plasma generation and uses thereof are also provided.

A device for supplying injection water capable of stably supplying the water to a water injection system of a vehicle. The device for supplying injection water includes a storage unit configured to store water, a management unit mounted on the storage unit and configured to detect a state of the water stored in the storage unit and manage the water, a transport unit connected to the storage unit through the management unit and configured to outwardly move the water, and an integrated controller configured to control operations of the management unit and the storage unit.

A gas-fired water heater including a water tank, a combustion chamber, a burner assembly disposed within the combustion chamber, a gas valve for controllably supplying gas to the burner assembly, a temperature sensor coupled to the combustion chamber, wherein the temperature sensor generating a signal related to the temperature of the combustion chamber, and a controller having an electronic processor and memory. The controller is configured to receive the signal at a first predetermined time and at a second predetermined time, calculate a change in temperature based on the signal received at the first predetermined time and the signal received at the second predetermined time, compare the change in temperature to a rate of change threshold to produce a first comparison, and shut the gas valve in response to the change in temperature being less than the rate of change threshold.

A gas-fired water heater including a water tank, a combustion chamber, a burner assembly disposed within the combustion chamber, a gas valve for controllably supplying gas to the burner assembly, a temperature sensor coupled to the combustion chamber, wherein the temperature sensor generating a signal related to the temperature of the combustion chamber, and a controller having an electronic processor and memory. The controller is configured to receive the signal at a first predetermined time and at a second predetermined time, calculate a change in temperature based on the signal received at the first predetermined time and the signal received at the second predetermined time, compare the change in temperature to a rate of change threshold to produce a first comparison, and shut the gas valve in response to the change in temperature being less than the rate of change threshold.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus (1) is capable of performing a refrigeration cycle using a small-GWP refrigerant. The refrigeration cycle apparatus (1) includes a refrigerant circuit (10) and a refrigerant enclosed in the refrigerant circuit (10). The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor (21), a condenser (23), a decompressing section (24), and an evaporator (31). The refrigerant contains at least 1,2-difluoroethylene.

A hot water supply device (10) is provided with: a first device (for example, a kitchen remote controller (13)) for performing control relating to hot water supply; a second device (for example, a water heater (11)) that is communicably connected to the first device and performs control relating to hot water supply; and a communication unit that is provided in the first device and can be connected to an external communication network. The first device divides data of control software of the second device acquired from an external device (for example, a server (50)) via the communication unit, into a plurality of parts, and transmits to the second device.

A hydrodynamic heater includes an inlet port for receiving a stream of fluid from an external source and an outlet port for discharging a stream of heated fluid from the hydrodynamic heater. A hydrodynamic chamber operates to selectively heat fluid present within an interior region of the hydrodynamic chamber. The hydrodynamic chamber includes an inlet port and an outlet port located along an interior wall of the hydrodynamic chamber. The hydrodynamic chamber inlet port is fluidly connected to the inlet port of the hydrodynamic heater. The hydrodynamic heater includes a fluid metering device having an inlet fluidly connected to the hydrodynamic heater inlet port and an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet port of the hydrodynamic chamber.

The present disclosure provides a water heater including a bypass conduit to allow flow of cold water from an inlet pipe to an outlet pipe, and an outlet temperature sensor coupled to the outlet pipe downstream of an outlet of the bypass conduit, to sense temperature of mixture of hot water and cold water in the outlet pipe. An electronic mixing valve is disposed along the inlet pipe to receive temperature data of water mixture from the outlet temperature sensor and compare temperature of the water mixture with a predefined temperature value. In response to determining that the water mixture is flowing through the outlet pipe, the electronic mixing valve regulates the flow of cold water through at least one of the bypass conduit and the inlet pipe until the temperature of the water mixture is within a predetermined range of the predefined temperature value.

An indicator generating method for generating an indicator which is suitable for maintenance prediction of a water heating system is proposed. A power state indication device generates a high power consumption signal if a heating device of the water heating system is activated. The time duration of the activation is such an indicator, if no water flow is present. Furthermore, the time interval between subsequent activations is such an indicator. A predictive maintenance method processes these condition-based indicators and determines a remaining useful lifetime according to a predictive maintenance model. The predictive maintenance device outputs a maintenance signal indicating required maintenance, if the remaining useful lifetime drops below a predetermined threshold. The methods may be performed by water heating systems or beverage makers.