A solar thermal control system includes a membrane configured to receive solar energy, wherein the membrane is configured to form a cavity between the membrane and an outer surface of a structure by coupling to the outer surface, and wherein the solar energy is configured to heat air within the cavity. The control system also includes a thermal collection unit configured to connect to the cavity and receive and direct air from the cavity, and a ducting system coupled to the thermal collection unit and configured to direct air from the thermal collection unit to at least one of the interior of the structure and a vent.

A recoverable and renewable heat recovery system includes a variable speed inverter compressor in fluid connection with a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger via a fluid circuit. The system further includes a solar thermal collection module positioned on top of the compressor and in fluid communication with the compressor, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger via the fluid circuit. A light intensity sensor is configured to determine light intensity on the solar thermal collection module. The solar thermal collection module is configured to retain solar energy thermal energy to increase fluid pressure in the compressor.

Appliances, such as hot water heaters, hot water heater controllers, and methods of operating such hot water heaters, that take into consideration the availability and capacity of alternative energy sources so that additional efficiencies can be realized by sensing the availability of an alternative energy source and adjusting the control algorithms used to control the use of the available electric power is provided.

The present disclosure provides a solar energy system. The solar energy system comprises a solar collector for providing energy generated from incident solar radiation. The system comprises a first heat exchange system comprising an ejector that is arranged to operate using at least a portion of the energy provided by the solar energy collector. Further, the system comprises a second heat exchange system arranged to operate using energy from an energy source other than a source of solar source. The solar energy system is arranged for direct or indirect transfer of thermal energy between the first heat exchange system and a region and between the second heat exchange system and the region. Further, the solar energy system is arranged for direct or indirect transfer of thermal energy from the second heat exchange system for use by at least one of: the first heat exchange system and a system for heating water.

A pumpless solar energy-based air heater includes a body housing a chamber surrounded by a heat conducting medium; an intake pipe to draw cool air into the chamber; and one or more exit pipes to push warm air out from the chamber, the one or more exit pipes having one or more structures within the interior of the one or more exit pipes to create a low friction factor for the air flowing upwards in the exit pipe while creating a high friction factor for the air attempting to move downward, thereby ensuring air flow in an upward direction; a pressure difference is created between an entry point of the intake pipe and an end point of the one or more exit pipes, thereby eliminating the need for a pump or a fan.

The described embodiments provide thermal energy via solar powered heat exchangers. This energy can be implemented to heat hot water or heat residential/commercial structures. Parallel mounted vacuum insulated tubes heat water within a geometric heat transfer piping system. This thermal energy is transferred via a piping system to an insulated tank. A digital controller monitors and controls the temperature of the water within the system as well as provides frost/freezing protection. An electrical active pumping system is connected to the digital controller to circulate water within the solar heat exchanger. The electric active pump can be connected to a solar photovoltaic (electric) panel for reliable and uninterrupted heat/hot water delivery.

Disclosed is a thermal storage solution which can operate without any internal tubing or mechanical pumping in the heat reservoir, and features a heat transfer technology based on evaporation and condensation of heat transfer fluids that will prevent hot and cold zones in the thermal storage reservoir. The main advantage is that the reservoir will have a much lower cost, have more degrees of freedom regarding the interplay between storage capacity, input and output power, and can operate without any mechanical or pressurized parts.

A system for providing air conditioning to a living space and heating potable water. The system comprising a heat pump circuit comprising a compressor for circulating a refrigerant around the heat pump circuit, a first condenser, a second condenser and an evaporator. The evaporator being adapted to receive a first flow of air from an air inlet to transfer heat from the first flow of air to the refrigerant. The first condenser being adapted to receive a flow of water to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the water. The second condenser being adapted to receive a second flow of air to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the second flow of air. The first flow being provided from the evaporator to a living space by an air outlet.

A water heating system for a domestic hot water tank, the system including: a heat pump adapted to provide heat energy; and a heat exchanger comprising a coil of thermally conductive material arranged such that a diameter of the coil is approximately between five and six times greater than a diameter of the thermally conductive material and the heat exchanger is adapted to be installed in the domestic hot water tank and operationally coupled to the heat pump.

A solar thermal assisted water heating system includes a thermal collector comprising a plurality of fluid channels configured to collect heat from a surface of a photovoltaic module, a drain-back tank coupled to the thermal collector, a first pump coupled to the drain-back tank and configured to pump fluid from the drain-back tank to the thermal collector, a first heat exchanger configured to receive fluid from the thermal collector, a heat pump coupled to the first heat exchanger and configured to remove heat from the fluid and heat water with the removed heat, and a controller configured to control the first pump and heat pump. The system may include a photovoltaic module and a hot water tank. These systems improve the efficiency of water heating, and the drain-back tank may serve as a thermal battery that stores heat and provides the stored heat when environmental temperatures decrease.