Provided is a method of signalling energy usage to a user of a hot water outlet of a hot water supply system, the hot water supply system including: a thermal energy store that is supplied with energy from a source of renewable energy; a renewable energy source; an auxiliary water heater coupled to a networked energy supply; a flow transducer operable, when a water flow passes through the hot water outlet, to provide flow rate data for the water flow; and a processor coupled to the flow transducer; the hot water supply system being operable, under the control of the processor, to heat water that is to be supplied to the hot water outlet to a target system supply temperature using a selection of one or more of the auxiliary water heater, the renewable energy source, and energy from the thermal energy store.

The present invention provides a cold-storage instantaneous heat pump water heater (HPWH). The HPWH includes a cold-water tank, a main evaporator, a compressor, and a hot water heat exchanger. In the present invention, heat of a working medium in the cold-water tank is absorbed by the main evaporator, and bathing water is rapidly heated by the hot water heat exchanger (condenser of the heat pump), thereby realizing instant heating with small input electrical power. Cold-water tank replaces the hot water tank of conventional HPWH avoiding energy loss during hot water storage. The working medium in the cold-water tank absorbs heat from the environment, to further improve energy utilization. In addition, there are three energy recovery evaporators to recover the waste heat of bathing.

Method for thermal insulation of an evacuable container comprising an inner container, an outer container and a cavity disposed between the inner container and the outer container, wherein said method comprises a) using a vacuum pump to reduce a pressure in the cavity and after achieving a first value of the pressure interrupting the connection to the vacuum pump, b) subsequently making a connection from a reservoir container of the thermally insulating particulate material to a filling opening provided in the region of the cavity, c) setting the evacuable container into motion, wherein the thermally insulating particulate material flows into the cavity according to a) and the pressure in the cavity increases due to the air introduced with the thermally insulating particulate material, d) terminating the filling at a second value of the pressure by interrupting the connection from the cavity to the reservoir container, e) repeating step a), wherein the output of the vacuum pump with which the cavity is deaerated is controlled such that the profile over time of the mass flow exiting from the cavity of air introduced with the thermally insulating particulate material is at a maximum, f) subsequently repeating steps b)-e) up to the desired degree of filling and g) as the final step sealing the evacuated cavity.

The invention relates to a compensation assembly for use in a hot water device and an associated hot water device. The hot water device includes a water tank for holding water to be heated, and the compensation assembly includes a compensation vessel and a ventilation component that allows air to be exchanged between the compensation vessel and the atmosphere. The ventilation component includes a blocking element designed to prevent water from leaking from the compensation vessel via the ventilation component.

An expansion assembly for use in a hot water device, having a water container for receiving water to be heated, includes an expansion tank with a lower expansion tank half shell and an upper expansion tank half shell. The lower expansion tank half shell has a coupling portion for coupling to the water container of the hot water device. The upper expansion tank half shell is configured to be coupled to a cold water feed line. The upper expansion tank half shell and the lower expansion tank half shell are hermetically connected at circumferential edges forming the expansion tank.

A computer-implemented method predictively prepares a water provision system installed in a building. The water provision system includes a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control operation of the heat pump. The water provision system is configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to an occupant of the building at one or more water outlets. The method is performed by the control module and includes: receiving a current location of the occupant, estimating an expected arrival time for the occupant to arrive at the building based on the current location, and determining an expected occupancy of the building based on the expected arrival time.

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of modulating energy consumption by a water provision system, the water provision system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control operation of the water provision system, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to a water outlet, the method being performed by the control module and comprising: upon determining that the water outlet is turned on, determining an elapse time from an initial time when the method is implemented; setting a temperature for heated water being provided to the water outlet based on the elapse time; and progressively reducing the temperature for heated water being provided to the water outlet as the elapse time increases until a target temperature is reached.

Temperature Management System for a private household or public building wherein there is one hot reservoir and one cold reservoir which are or can be coupled with at least one solar collector or outdoor heat exchanger that is installed outdoors for the purpose of heating or cooling the respective reservoir.

A system produces domestic hot water and includes a tank having top and bottom portions and containing heat storing fluid, and a tapping unit including first and second tapping coils. The first tapping coil is immersed in the bottom portion of the tank. The second tapping coil is fluidly connected in series to the first tapping coil by a connection pipe, and to the hot water port, and is immersed the top portion of the tank A switching device switches between a first state in which water flows from the cold water port through only first tapping coil to the hot water port, and a second state in which water flows from the cold water port through the first tapping coil and, after flowing through the first tapping coil, through to the second tapping coil to the hot water port.

A storage container and a method for designing same, including a wall that forms the storage container and has an inner face and an outer face, and an insulation layer that rests against the outer face of the wall, encloses the storage container and has different thicknesses in different regions of the wall. The insulation layer is thicker in a region that has an above-average temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall than in a region that has a smaller temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall.