A boiler unit comprises an enclosure including: a first circuit of a first fluid heat exchange medium, the first circuit having a heating device to heat the first medium, a boost heat exchanger, a valve and a first manifold; a second circuit of a second heating system fluid heat exchange medium, the second circuit having a flow and return port of the boiler unit, a second manifold and said boost heat exchanger for exchange of heat between said first and second heat exchanger media when said valve is open; a space in the enclosure receiving an auxiliary unit to be driven substantially exclusively by said first fluid heat exchange medium; and a boiler control unit to control operation of the heating device according to heat demand of the heating device and otherwise irrespective of the auxiliary unit when connected; and an organic rankine cycle (ORC) unit comprising: a third fluid heat exchange medium circuit, the circuit including a condenser adapted for connection to said second manifold to provide heat to said second circuit, a pump to circulate said third medium, an evaporator adapted for connection to said first manifold to heat said third medium and a rotary expander connected to an electricity generator; and an auxiliary control unit to control the ORC unit and operate said valve.

Provided is a heating and hot water supply device. The heating and hot water supply device includes: a combustion part; a heat exchanger; a circulation passage; a circulation part; a bypass passage; a distribution means for distributing the heating medium to the circulation passage and the bypass passage; a hot water supply heat exchanger; a water supply passage; and a hot water supply passage (21). The distribution ratio of the distribution means is adjustable so as to correspond to a heating operation, a hot water supply operation, and the simultaneous heating and hot water supply operation. The heating and hot water supply device includes an operation part, which heats the heating medium to one or more heating terminal setting temperatures and circulates the heating medium, and switches a setting of the one or more heating terminal setting temperatures to be increased by a prescribed temperature during the simultaneous heating and hot water supply operation.

Provided is a heating and hot water supply device. The heating and hot water supply device includes: a combustion part; a heat exchanger; a circulation passage; a circulation part; a bypass passage; a distribution means for distributing the heating medium to the circulation passage and the bypass passage; a hot water supply heat exchanger; a water supply passage; and a hot water supply passage (21). The distribution ratio of the distribution means is adjustable so as to correspond to a heating operation, a hot water supply operation, and the simultaneous heating and hot water supply operation. The heating and hot water supply device includes an operation part, which heats the heating medium to one or more heating terminal setting temperatures and circulates the heating medium, and switches a setting of the one or more heating terminal setting temperatures to be increased by a prescribed temperature during the simultaneous heating and hot water supply operation.

A plate heat exchanger can reduce thermal contact between a second fluid (water and a third fluid (low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant) to enhance thermal efficiency. A plate heat exchanger (1b) includes a heat transfer plate group (102a) that performs heat exchange between a first fluid of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant and a second fluid of a heating target fluid; and a heat transfer plate group (102b) that performs heat exchange between a first fluid of low-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant and a third fluid of low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase liquid refrigerant. The heat transfer plate group (102a) forms refrigerant channels including a stack of plates, has a configuration that a flow of the first fluid of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant and a flow of the second fluid are alternately aligned in the refrigerant channels, and causes the second fluid to flow in the outermost refrigerant channel.

A plate heat exchanger can reduce thermal contact between a second fluid (water and a third fluid (low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant) to enhance thermal efficiency. A plate heat exchanger (1b) includes a heat transfer plate group (102a) that performs heat exchange between a first fluid of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant and a second fluid of a heating target fluid; and a heat transfer plate group (102b) that performs heat exchange between a first fluid of low-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant and a third fluid of low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase liquid refrigerant. The heat transfer plate group (102a) forms refrigerant channels including a stack of plates, has a configuration that a flow of the first fluid of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant and a flow of the second fluid are alternately aligned in the refrigerant channels, and causes the second fluid to flow in the outermost refrigerant channel.

A combined heating system comprising a first heating subsystem including a first fluid conductor, a first heating unit adapted to heat a first fluid and output the first fluid at the outlet of the first fluid conductor, and a fluid mover adapted to move the first fluid through the first heating unit, a second heating subsystem including a second fluid conductor adapted to receive a second fluid, a third fluid conductor, a second heating unit adapted to heat the second fluid and output the heated second fluid in the third fluid conductor, a fluid mover adapted to move the second fluid from the outlet of the third fluid conductor to the inlet of the second fluid conductor, at least one heat exchanger operably connected to a downstream location of the first heating unit and a fourth fluid conductor connecting the second fluid conductor and the third fluid conductor.

A combined heating system comprising a first heating subsystem including a first fluid conductor, a first heating unit adapted to heat a first fluid and output the first fluid at the outlet of the first fluid conductor, and a fluid mover adapted to move the first fluid through the first heating unit, a second heating subsystem including a second fluid conductor adapted to receive a second fluid, a third fluid conductor, a second heating unit adapted to heat the second fluid and output the heated second fluid in the third fluid conductor, a fluid mover adapted to move the second fluid from the outlet of the third fluid conductor to the inlet of the second fluid conductor, at least one heat exchanger operably connected to a downstream location of the first heating unit and a fourth fluid conductor connecting the second fluid conductor and the third fluid conductor.

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.

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.

A multi-temperature output fluid heating system including an input for receiving a fluid supply, a single heating source, a first output, a second output and a bypass path. The first output is fluidly connected to the input, where the first output is adapted for control by a first control device and to receive heat from the single heating source to achieve a first temperature at the first output. The bypass path fluidly connects the input and the second output. The input is adapted to empty a first portion of the fluid supply into the first output and a second portion of the input into the bypass path. The second output is adapted to receive an output from the first output and an output from the bypass path to achieve a second temperature.