An instant hot water delivery system includes a thermal storage bin that receives hot water from a water heater via a hot water supply conduit and stores the hot water therein. The thermal storage bin is disposed adjacent a point of demand to deliver the hot water instantly to the point of demand responsive to a demand. The thermal storage bin is configured to retain a thermal energy of the hot water for a prolonged period using a phase change material. When the hot water stored in the thermal storage bin cools down below a threshold temperature, the cooled down hot water is recirculated to the water heater via a cold water supply conduit using a crossover valve. The recirculation is based on thermosiphon. Fresh hot water from the water heater replaces the cooled down hot water that is displaced from the thermal storage bin.

A heating system for heating a fluid received at an inlet, the system including a first heating device disposed in a first heated line branched from the inlet, wherein a first flow of the fluid through the first heated line is configured to be modulated by a first valve; a second heating device disposed in a second heated line branched from the inlet, wherein a second flow of the fluid through the second heated line is configured to be modulated by a second valve; and a bypass line and a third valve disposed in the bypass line, wherein a flow through the bypass line is configured to be modulated by the third valve, wherein the first and second heating devices and the first, second and third valve are configured to cooperate to heat the fluid at an outlet received from the first and second heated line and the bypass line.

The present invention provides an energy storage system (10) for a use with a boiler (20). The energy storage system (10) comprises a plurality of thermal energy storage banks (101, 102, 103, 104). Each thermal energy storage bank (101, 102, 103, 104) comprises phase changeable material having a predetermined phase transformation temperature. The energy storage system (10) also includes an extraction device (105; 1 15) configured to recover waste energy from the boiler (20). The extraction device (105, 1 15) is operable to extract waste energy from the boiler (20) and feed that energy to at least one (101) of the thermal energy storage banks (101, 102, 103, 104). A controller (106) is arranged, in use, to activate the extraction device (105, 115) in response to operation of the boiler (20).

A thermal energy storage (TES) component includes a shell having first and second ports, and at least a first set of thermally conductive sealed containers that contain a TES media for storing thermal energy. A first set of sealed tubes containing a first TES media are in a first section of the shell, and a second set of sealed tubes containing a different TES media are in a second section of the shell. Electric heating elements are immersed in at least some of the tubes, and may extend only from one end of the tube. In some embodiments more than one heating element is immersed in the TES media and positioned to enhance convective flow. In some embodiments electric heating elements are disposed externally on the sealed tubes. Some tubes are tapered or frustoconical, with heating elements provided in a larger-diameter portion of the tubes.

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.

There is herein described energy storage systems. More particularly, there is herein described thermal energy storage systems and use of energy storable material such as phase change material in the provision of heating and/or cooling systems in, for example, domestic dwellings.

An instant hot water delivery system includes a thermal storage bin that receives hot water from a water heater via a hot water supply conduit and stores the hot water therein. The thermal storage bin is disposed adjacent a point of demand to deliver the hot water instantly to the point of demand responsive to a demand. The thermal storage bin is configured to retain a thermal energy of the hot water for a prolonged period using a phase change material. When the hot water stored in the thermal storage bin cools down below a threshold temperature, the cooled down hot water is recirculated to the water heater via a cold water supply conduit using a crossover valve. The recirculation is based on thermosiphon. Fresh hot water from the water heater replaces the cooled down hot water that is displaced from the thermal storage bin.

According to various aspects of the invention, a cooking system is disclosed. The cooking system includes one or more thermal storages capable of storing thermal energy using electric power received from one or more energy source; one or more heat exchanger circuit for transferring the thermal energy from the one or more thermal storages; and a cooking unit arranged in heat exchanging relationship with the one or more thermal storages via one or more heat exchanger circuits. The cooking unit receives the thermal energy from the one or more thermal storages for cooking

The invention relates to an energy storage system for storing heat and coldness and for providing electrical energy, characterized by an energy converter, wherein the energy converter is designed to produce electrical energy from heat and coldness and to produce heat and coldness from electrical energy, the energy converter being in heat-transferring contact with a hot heat exchanger and with a cold heat exchanger, the hot heat exchanger being connected to a heat reservoir and the cold heat exchanger being connected to a coldness reservoir, and a control unit being provided, which operates the energy storage system in a first operating mode, in which heat and coldness are formed from electrical energy by means of the energy converter, and in a second operating mode, in which electrical energy is produced from heat and coldness.

In one aspect, methods of managing the temperature of a room are described herein. In some embodiments, such a method described herein comprises disposing a fixture in an interior of the room, wherein the fixture comprises or contains a phase change material. Additionally, in some cases, the fixture is a decorative fixture, such as a piece of artwork.