A method of heating water in a water storage tank. The method includes: selecting an outlet port and an inlet port from at least three ports located in the tank at different heights along a vertical direction. The outlet port is below the inlet port. The method further includes extracting water from the outlet port, supplying the extracted water to an external heat exchanger configured for heating the extracted water, and delivering heated water from the heat exchanger to the selected inlet port.

Systems and methods for providing hot water to a commercial dishwasher are provided. A first heat exchanger is provided in a first enclosure, and is used to heat water from a cold water source. The heated water is provided to the commercial dishwasher for use. A second heat exchanger is provided in a second enclosure, and is used to collect waste heat from the wastewater of the commercial dishwasher. A refrigerant coil loop passes through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and allows for the use of the waste heat. The first heat exchanger is a condenser provided within a condenser chamber, the condenser connected to a compressor. The second heat exchanger is an evaporator within an evaporator chamber, the evaporator connected to an expansion valve.

Apparatus and method for heating/cooling buildings and other facilities. An elongate pipe filled with water or other fluid medium forms a thermal gradient header having temperature zones that are progressively warmer towards one end and cooler towards the other. Multiple heating/cooling systems are connected to the header so as to draw fluid from zones that are closest in temperature to the optimal intake temperature of each system, and to discharge fluid back to the header at zones that are closest to the temperature to the optimal output temperature of each system, allowing each heating/cooling system to take advantage of the thermal output of other systems. The pipe forming the thermal gradient header may be routed back and forth in the facility to define a series of legs containing the different temperature zones. A boiler or other source may supply makeup heat to the thermal gradient header, and excess heat may be sent from the header to a ground field or other thermal reservoir for later use.

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.

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 system for using solar and wind energy for electricity generation and thermal regulation. The system may include a high altitude wind turbine, which may generate electric power and conduct cold to the ground and the rest of the system. The cold may be conducted to a crystallization tank, which may also include an input for heat, for example from solar energy. Cold and heat from the crystallization tank may then be stored or used to heat or cool one or more buildings. Generated electric power may be used in conjunction with or separately from the heating/cooling system.

A system for using solar and wind energy for electricity generation and thermal regulation. The system may include a high altitude wind turbine, which may generate electric power and conduct cold to the ground and the rest of the system. The cold may be conducted to a crystallization tank, which may also include an input for heat, for example from solar energy. Cold and heat from the crystallization tank may then be stored or used to heat or cool one or more buildings. Generated electric power may be used in conjunction with or separately from the heating/cooling system.

Integrated systems and methods for onsite wastewater treatment in which a portion of onsite energy demands may be driven by energy harvested from the wastewater. Thermal energy of wastewater may be transferred from an onsite wastewater treatment system to an onsite heat pump to recover thermal energy, at least a portion of which may then be delivered to an onsite energy demand.

An apparatus using a heat pump includes a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit. The refrigerant circuit is capable of performing a first operation, in which a load-side heat exchanger is used as a condenser, and a second operation, in which the load-side heat exchanger is used as an evaporator. A main circuit of the heat medium circuit has a branching part and a joining part. An overpressure protection device and a refrigerant leakage detecting device are connected to the main circuit. The overpressure protection device is connected to a connection part located between the load-side heat exchanger and one of the branching part and the joining part, or at the load-side heat exchanger. When leakage of refrigerant is detected, the state of a refrigerant flow switching device is set to a second state, an expansion device is set to a closed state, and a compressor is operated.

An apparatus using a heat pump includes a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit. The refrigerant circuit is capable of performing a first operation, in which a load-side heat exchanger is used as a condenser, and a second operation, in which the load-side heat exchanger is used as an evaporator. A main circuit of the heat medium circuit has a branching part and a joining part. An overpressure protection device and a refrigerant leakage detecting device are connected to the main circuit. The overpressure protection device is connected to a connection part located between the load-side heat exchanger and one of the branching part and the joining part, or at the load-side heat exchanger. When leakage of refrigerant is detected, the state of a refrigerant flow switching device is set to a second state, an expansion device is set to a closed state, and a compressor is operated.