A preheat tank to which a heat exchanger is operatively coupled receives water from a distribution subsystem. A water distribution subsystem and tempered fluid distribution subsystem provide domestic water and tempered fluid, respectively, to a plurality of spaces. Air handlers transfer heat between the tempered fluid and the spaces for heating and cooling. A controller coupled to the tempered fluid subsystem, the heat exchanger and a refrigerator has: (i) a first mode, wherein the fluid is routed through the heat exchanger, to pass heat to the preheat tank; and (ii) a second mode, wherein the fluid is routed through an evaporator of the refrigerator, to pass heat to the refrigerant. A storage tank is coupled to the preheat tank to receive water therefrom and is coupled to the condenser of the refrigerator such that heat rejected by the condenser is passed to the contents of the storage tank.

A preheat tank to which a heat exchanger is operatively coupled receives water from a distribution subsystem. A water distribution subsystem and tempered fluid distribution subsystem provide domestic water and tempered fluid, respectively, to a plurality of spaces. Air handlers transfer heat between the tempered fluid and the spaces for heating and cooling. A controller coupled to the tempered fluid subsystem, the heat exchanger and a refrigerator has: (i) a first mode, wherein the fluid is routed through the heat exchanger, to pass heat to the preheat tank; and (ii) a second mode, wherein the fluid is routed through an evaporator of the refrigerator, to pass heat to the refrigerant. A storage tank is coupled to the preheat tank to receive water therefrom and is coupled to the condenser of the refrigerator such that heat rejected by the condenser is passed to the contents of the storage tank.

The present invention relates to a hybrid heat pump apparatus comprising: a housing having a first channel and a second channel formed therein; a dehumidifying rotor disposed in the housing; a heating unit disposed in the first channel and heating air passing therethrough; a cooling unit disposed in the second channel and selectively cooling air passing therethrough; a coolant circulating unit including a compressor, a first heat exchanger disposed in the second channel, a second heat exchanger, and a four-way valve; and a water circulating pipe through which water circulates and which is connected to the second heat exchanger for heat exchanging between the circulating water and coolant in the second heat exchanger.

A method for operating a heat pump water heater appliance positioned with a building is provided. The method includes receiving a measurement of ambient temperature about the building via a network and also getting a measurement of ambient temperature about the heat pump water heater appliance within the building. The method further includes heating water within the heat pump water heater appliance with only a sealed system of the heat pump water heater appliance or with only a secondary heating element of the heat pump water heater appliance based upon the measurement of ambient temperature about the building and the measurement of ambient temperature about the heat pump water heater appliance within the building.

A method for operating a heat pump water heater appliance positioned with a building is provided. The method includes receiving a measurement of ambient temperature about the building via a network and also getting a measurement of ambient temperature about the heat pump water heater appliance within the building. The method further includes heating water within the heat pump water heater appliance with only a sealed system of the heat pump water heater appliance or with only a secondary heating element of the heat pump water heater appliance based upon the measurement of ambient temperature about the building and the measurement of ambient temperature about the heat pump water heater appliance within the building.

An apparatus for heating water has a tank for storing water and an air conditioning system that defines a refrigerant flow path through which refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow path passes through the heat exchanger so that refrigerant heat is contributed to the tank. A control system controls operation of the water heating apparatus.

A heat pump, heat pump system, and method for operating the same is provided. The heat pump preferably operates using a supercritical working fluid, from which heat is extracted through a multi-stage heat exchanger. Heat is extracted from the working fluid to supply at least two heat sinks, such as a hot water system or space heating system of a building. The configuration of the multi-stage heat sinks facilitates the heat pump to serve as a drop-in replacement for traditional fossil-fuel powered boilers or the like and to provide heat at temperatures typically provided by these traditional systems, eliminating the need for excess or replacement infrastructure when retrofitting or upgrading existing installations. The working fluid is expanded twice to limit flashing of the working fluid during expansion and to facilitate recirculation of such gases without damaging components of the system.

A heat pump, heat pump system, and method for operating the same is provided. The heat pump preferably operates using a supercritical working fluid, from which heat is extracted through a multi-stage heat exchanger. Heat is extracted from the working fluid to supply at least two heat sinks, such as a hot water system or space heating system of a building. The configuration of the multi-stage heat sinks facilitates the heat pump to serve as a drop-in replacement for traditional fossil-fuel powered boilers or the like and to provide heat at temperatures typically provided by these traditional systems, eliminating the need for excess or replacement infrastructure when retrofitting or upgrading existing installations. The working fluid is expanded twice to limit flashing of the working fluid during expansion and to facilitate recirculation of such gases without damaging components of the system.

An energy supply system for salt lake lithium extraction comprises: a lithium extraction unit, a water source supply unit, a heating unit, a heat exchange unit, a steam supply unit, and a lithium extraction plant. The water source supply unit comprises a water storage tank and a first solid heat storage assembly. A second solid heat storage assembly of the heating unit is connected to the heat exchange unit, and is connected to the lithium extraction plant by means of a building heating water supply pipeline. The lithium extraction unit comprises an adsorption assembly, a membrane assembly, an evaporation assembly and a lithium precipitation assembly, and the water storage tank is connected to the adsorption assembly. A third solid heat storage assembly of the steam supply unit is connected to the evaporation assembly and the lithium precipitation assembly. The lithium extraction plant is connected to the heat exchange unit.

An air-conditioning apparatus for air conditioning indoor environments has a containment structure having a casing delimiting a first compartment and a second compartment. A pellet stove configured to operate in heating mode and provided with a first duct for movement of combustion air in input to the pellet stove is housed inside the first compartment. A monoblock portable heat pump configured to operate in heating and/or cooling mode and provided with a second duct for movement of heated air in output from the monoblock portable heat pump is housed inside the second compartment.