A water heater appliance includes a first heat exchanger that is coupled to a tank. The water heater appliance also includes a caloric heat pump system that is configured for heating liquid within the tank via the first heat exchanger. The caloric heat pump system includes a plurality of caloric material stages. A field generator is positioned such that the caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system.

A liquid heating appliance for heating water or other liquids, suitably to a target temperature of from 55° C. to around boiling point, includes a primary heat chamber or body (heat source chamber) that is thermally insulated and which in use contains a high thermal density heat storing liquid or solid; and a secondary chamber alongside the primary chamber through which a liquid to be heated is passed in use. The appliance has a heat transfer feature to selectively transfer thermal energy from the heat-storing liquid or solid to the liquid to be heated in the secondary chamber. The secondary chamber is preferably a conduit through which the liquid to be heated is able to flow and the thus heated liquid can be delivered to a tap as hot water for a range of uses. Water may also be heated for a central heating system for space heating.

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.

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 storage unit comprises a casing defining an interior space for holding at least one item, a thermal element lining an interior surface of at least one side of the casing, and at least one thermal battery thermally coupled to the thermal element.

A water purifier includes a working coil, a hot water tank that faces toward the working coil and is spaced apart from the working coil by a gap to heat a liquid passing through an inner space of the hot water tank by an induction of the working coil, a bracket that is coupled to the hot water tank, the working coil being located between the hot water tank and the bracket, and a spacer that is located between the working coil and the hot water tank to thereby define the gap between the working coil and the hot water tank.

Systems and methods for integrating photovoltaic (PV) energy into water heater systems are disclosed. The disclosed technology includes determining whether a current water temperature is less than a first PV heat point that is greater than a normal heat point, and if so, outputting instructions for PV energy to be transferred from a PV system to a heating device of the water heater. If the current water temperature falls below a second PV heat point that is less than the normal heat point, the disclosed technology includes outputting instructions for energy to be transferred from a utility system to the heating device.

A flue baffle for a water heater comprises a plurality of holes along a length of the baffle and a plurality of bent blades along the length of the baffle, where each hole of the plurality of holes is adjacent to a bent blade of the plurality of bent blades. The holes are configured to permit flue gas to pass through the holes. The bent blades can have an alternating pattern where a first bent blade extends from one side of the baffle and the next bent blade extends from an opposite side of the baffle. A press tool for forming the baffle comprises a piercing tool for forming the plurality of holes and a lance and fold die for forming the bent blades.

A flue baffle for a water heater comprises a plurality of holes along a length of the baffle and a plurality of bent blades along the length of the baffle, where each hole of the plurality of holes is adjacent to a bent blade of the plurality of bent blades. The holes are configured to permit flue gas to pass through the holes. The bent blades can have an alternating pattern where a first bent blade extends from one side of the baffle and the next bent blade extends from an opposite side of the baffle. A press tool for forming the baffle comprises a piercing tool for forming the plurality of holes and a lance and fold die for forming the bent blades.

A water heater and methods of operating the water heater are provided. The water heater appliance includes a tank, a cold water inlet conduit extending into the tank, a heating element within the tank, a hot water conduit extending from the tank to a mixing valve, a mixed water conduit downstream of the mixing valve, and a user interface. The method includes and/or the water heater is operable for receiving, from the user interface, a user value for a tank temperature setpoint. A predicted demand for hot water is determined. The tank temperature setpoint is then adjusted based on the predicted demand for hot water.