An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a heat medium circuit, and a controller. In the refrigerant circuit, a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and a load-side heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes, and refrigerant flows. The heat-source-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a heat-source heat medium. The load-side heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed between the refrigerant and a load heat medium, and refrigerant flows. In the heat medium circuit, a flow control valve that regulates the flow rate of the heat-source heat medium and the heat-source-side heat exchanger are connected by a heat medium pipe, and the heat-source heat medium flows. The controller includes a storage unit that stores data indicating a defined maximum flow rate and a defined minimum flow rate of the heat-source heat medium that flows in the heat medium circuit.

A heat pump apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit for circulating combustible refrigerant, and a load unit to be provided in a room and configured to accommodate a load side heat exchanger. The load side heat exchanger allows heat exchange between the combustible refrigerant and a liquid heat medium. The load unit includes a fan, an air inlet for sucking in air from the room, and an air outlet for blowing out the air, sucked in from the air inlet, to the room. The air outlet is provided at a position of a height different from the height of the air inlet.

A heat pump apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit for circulating combustible refrigerant, and a load unit to be provided in a room and configured to accommodate a load side heat exchanger. The load side heat exchanger allows heat exchange between the combustible refrigerant and a liquid heat medium. The load unit includes a fan, an air inlet for sucking in air from the room, and an air outlet for blowing out the air, sucked in from the air inlet, to the room. The air outlet is provided at a position of a height different from the height of the air inlet.

Thermal energy systems for managing, distribution and recovery of thermal energy. A single-pipe loop circulating a two-phase refrigerant is provided. The single-pipe loop is spread through the entire system and interconnects a plurality of local heat exchange stations, each having different thermal energy loads. A central circulation mechanism (CCM) is also provided for circulating the refrigerant for distribution of thermal energy within the system.

A water heater includes a heat exchanger, a heat pump, a first valve in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the heat pump, and a controller configured to control the first valve. The first valve can be configured to direct water flow toward at least one of the gas heater or the electric heat pump. A second valve in fluid communication with the first valve and the heat pump can be provided, and the controller can be further configured to control the second valve. A water heater inlet and a water heater outlet can be included and in fluid communication with the first valve, and the controller can be configured to monitor a temperature of water entering the water heater inlet and control the first valve dependent upon the monitored temperature.

A water heater includes a heat exchanger, a heat pump, a first valve in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the heat pump, and a controller configured to control the first valve. The first valve can be configured to direct water flow toward at least one of the gas heater or the electric heat pump. A second valve in fluid communication with the first valve and the heat pump can be provided, and the controller can be further configured to control the second valve. A water heater inlet and a water heater outlet can be included and in fluid communication with the first valve, and the controller can be configured to monitor a temperature of water entering the water heater inlet and control the first valve dependent upon the monitored temperature.

An air conditioner, and a device and method for preventing cold air during heating of the air conditioner are provided, including: detecting an indoor ambient temperature and an outdoor ambient temperature respectively; determining whether an evaporator inner-tube temperature satisfies an evaporator inner-tube temperature condition, or whether a duration reaches an operating duration, or whether a current intensity continuously reaches a first preset current intensity threshold for a predetermined duration; when if so, starting an inner blower fan at a first preset wind speed; determining whether the evaporator inner-tube temperature satisfies the evaporator inner-tube temperature condition, or whether the current intensity continuously reaches a second preset current intensity threshold for a predetermined duration, or whether a duration, for which the inner blower fan operates at the first preset wind speed, reaches a first preset duration; and if so, switching the inner blower fan to operate at a second preset wind speed.

A heater including a housing, a first tankless heater, a second tankless heater, a first and second flow directing elements, the first flow directing element in communication with the first tankless heater and the second flow directing element and the second flow directing element in communication with the second tankless heater, and a controller in communication with the first and second tankless heaters and the first and second flow directing elements, the controller configured to control the first and second flow directing elements to control flow to one or both of the first and second tankless heaters.

A heater including a housing, a first tankless heater, a second tankless heater, a first and second flow directing elements, the first flow directing element in communication with the first tankless heater and the second flow directing element and the second flow directing element in communication with the second tankless heater, and a controller in communication with the first and second tankless heaters and the first and second flow directing elements, the controller configured to control the first and second flow directing elements to control flow to one or both of the first and second tankless heaters.

A sealed heat exchange system and air conditioner are provided herein. The sealed heat exchange system may include a compressor, a heat exchanger, a line filter, a variable electronic expansion device, a primary fluid path, and an alternate fluid path. The compressor may generally increase a pressure of a flowed refrigerant within the sealed heat exchange system. The heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with the compressor and the line filter may be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The primary fluid path may define a fluid inlet to receive the flowed refrigerant downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the expansion device. The alternate fluid path may define a fluid inlet to receive the flowed refrigerant downstream of the variable electronic expansion device and upstream of the heat exchanger.