A residential and commercial hot water and steam boiler safety system and device that includes at least one hollow pipe, with one plugged or sealed end and a fitting on the other end for connecting the pipe in a substantially vertical mounting position, and at least one two float switch disposed in the pipe and electrically connected in series with a limit switch in the boiler, where the pipe is adopted for the flow and accumulation of water, so that float switch activates as the pipe fills with water and shuts off the boiler by turning off the gas valve, promoting safer boiler and steam boiler operation. Additional float switches positioned above or below in the hollow pipe may provide additional functions, such as a warning light and sound to the owner, or a notification via a telephone or cell phone system or through the home network or Wi-Fi system.

A system and method of igniting a coal air-fuel mixture, including a burner having a burner tube operable to carry a flowing mixture of fuel and air to a furnace for combustion therein and a first flow directing device disposed within the tube, operable to direct a first portion of the flowing fuel and air mixture to a location in the burner tube. The system also includes a laser igniter within the burner tube, the laser igniter including a laser tube having a first end with a laser light input and a second end with a light output, and a laser light source operably coupled to the laser light input. The laser light source, including a laser. The laser ignitor directing photons from the light output at the location in the burner tube to ignite at least a part of the first portion of the fuel.

The present invention relates to a system and method for continuous monitoring of system health in closed water systems. Sensors are provided to measure a plurality of system parameters. The measurements are compared to threshold ranges. A diagnosis of system health, specifically in relation to corrosion, is derived from the comparison of at least a first parameter to its threshold range. The diagnosis is further refined by comparison of a further parameter to its threshold range. Also disclosed are example sensors and methods, including galvanic sensors, optical corrosion sensors and methods for monitoring the effectiveness of inhibitors in the water system using conductivity measurements.

A heat pump water heater has a tank, a heat source, and a heat pump system. The heat pump system has a refrigerant path, at least a portion of which is in thermal communication with the water tank volume so that heat transfers from refrigerant to the water tank volume. A fan causes air to flow through a housing, and another portion of the refrigerant path includes an evaporator in the housing. The fan is within the housing and may further be within a second housing. The first housing may comprise a baffle to direct air flow. The fan may be a variable speed fan in communication with a controller, so that the controller controls the fan speed depending on a temperature of the refrigerant.

A micro-combined heat and power (mCHP) system includes a liquid cooled variable speed genset that is located to the exterior of a building and that is provides heat and power to the interior of the building. The genset may be configured to output an electrical supply of between approximately between 500W and 40 kW. A coolant loop may extend from the exterior genset to the interior of a building and is configured to reclaim heat from one or more sources of waste heat at the engine, generator, oil and/or exhaust. The reclaimed heat is then transferred, directly or indirectly, to the air flow path of a building heating system. In one embodiment, the reclaimed heat is transferred to a liquid circuit via a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger and thence to the cold air intake of a forced air furnace via a liquid-to-air heat exchanger. A thermostat may control heat transfer from the mCHP to the heating system.

In a control device, an instruction acquirer acquires an instruction to suppress in a specified period supplying of generated power generated by power generator installed in a power-consuming area to a commercial electrical power system. Upon the instruction acquirer acquiring the instruction, a water heater controller commands a water heater installed in the power-consuming area to perform a water heat-up operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the specified period.

Methods and systems are described for controlling parameters in a building. According to at least one embodiment, a method for controlling parameters in a building includes using a first sensor type to determine whether the building is occupied and using a second sensor type to determine how reliable the first sensor type determines occupancy.

A method of operating a heating and cooling system, including (1) providing a heating/cooling apparatus comprising first and second heat exchangers, (2) providing a conduit module modularly coupled to the heating/cooling apparatus and adapted to be coupled to a plurality of fluid circuits for heating and/or cooling loads, and (3) operating a control system configured to operate the conduit module in a plurality of heating and/or cooling modes. The conduit module is positioned between the heating/cooling apparatus and the plurality of fluid circuits. The conduit module includes first, second, and third supply conduits and first, second, and third return conduits, to convey first, second, and source fluids to and from respective first, second, and source fluid circuits. The conduit module includes first, second, third, and fourth three-way valves to selectively regulate flow of the first, second, and source fluids.

A method controls a circulation pump (1) in an installation with at least two circulation circuits (3, 4), with which the circulation pump (1) is integrated by way of a switch-over valve (2) into the one or the other circulation circuit (3 or 4) depending on the switched position. The pump (1) is activated differently depending on the switched position of the switch-over valve (2). The switch-over procedure is detected by way of determining the pressure course and/or the flow rate course in the pump (1) or an electrical variable which is dependent thereon, of the motor driving the pump, and the pump (1) is operated in another manner accordingly.

A circulating hot water system has a hot water flow circuit defined by pipework leading out from and back to an in-line heater, and including a pump to drive circulation of the hot water. Each of multiple user points has an outflow branch conduit and a return flow branch conduit with a common wall for heat exchange, as does the main flow circuit: the outflow conduit surrounds the return conduit. Water is fed into the system from a pressurized cold water supply main through a check valve. Sensors are used to monitor water temperatures and flow conditions around the system. A programmed control processor can control heating and pumping rates in various regimes, e.g. to maintain system temperature above a predetermined threshold. An isolation valve adapted for concentric double pipes is also described.