A method of heating water in a water storage tank. The method includes: selecting an outlet port and an inlet port from at least three ports located in the tank at different heights along a vertical direction. The outlet port is below the inlet port. The method further includes extracting water from the outlet port, supplying the extracted water to an external heat exchanger configured for heating the extracted water, and delivering heated water from the heat exchanger to the selected inlet port.

An air conditioner system including a sleeping enclosure defining a sleeping space into which conditioned air is adapted to be delivered from one end or side of the sleeping space in a manner which maximizes contact between conditioned air and a person or persons in the sleeping space, the sleeping space including an upper air pervious section; and a lower relatively air impervious section adapted to surround a bed in the sleeping space and configured to minimize passage of the conditioned air from the sleeping space through the pervious section or other leakage paths; and an air conditioner unit for generating a conditioned air flow, wherein the impervious section extends to a height above the sleeping surface of the bed at the end or side of the bed opposed to said end or side sufficient to contain the conditioned air as it moves towards and returns from the opposite end or side of the sleeping space, and wherein the impervious section extends to a sufficiently increased height above the sleeping surface at the opposite end or side to allow the direction of air flow to reverse towards said one end or side without substantial loss of conditioned air through the pervious section.

A method of cooling air includes a liquid coolant subsystem including a cool water source configured to hold water, an air cooling subsystem including an air chamber that contains air therein, an air conditioning apparatus including a heat exchanger of a liquid-to-air type having a heat sink in thermal communication, a fan assembly configured to move air along the heat sink of the heat exchanger, a thermostat, a temperature sensor, and a control circuit in electronic communication with the temperature sensor and the thermostat, a plumbing subsystem including an inlet piping component in fluid communication with heat exchanger, an outlet piping component in fluid communication with the exchanger, and a solenoid valve. The control circuit may be configured to activate the fan assembly and to open the solenoid valve, allowing for the transfer heat to water from the air moved by the fan assembly.

The present subject matter provides a damper valve. The damper valve includes an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is positioned within the outer sleeve and is pivotable between a first position and a second position within the outer sleeve. Radial openings of the inner sleeve align with radial openings of the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the first position, and axial openings of the inner sleeve align with axial openings of the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the second position. A related heat pump water heater appliance is also provided.

A combined hot water and air heating and conditioning system including a first heat exchanger, a heat pump, a chilling tower loop, a burner and a second heat exchanger to provide hot water, air heating and air cooling. The system provides hot water, air heating and cooling all in one single unit. The system utilizes a heat pump to remove heat from ambient air and transfer the rejected heat into a hot water system, thereby using waste heat to heat the hot water system. The system utilizes a heat exchanger not only for the purpose of transferring heat from a heating source to a fluid in the heat exchanger but also for the purpose of dissipating heat from the fluid in the heat exchanger to the surroundings of the heat exchanger, thereby allowing a heat pump to act both as an air heating and conditioning device.

A device to store energy includes a phase change material (PCM), with a phase change temperature Tc, contained in a sealed container and constituting a storage core. A source to exchange heat with the PCM, at a temperature TA, to cause a phase change of the PCM. A recuperator to exchange heat with the PCM, at a temperature TB, to cause a phase change of the PCM in the opposite direction to the phase change produced by the source. A controller to control the heat flows between the PCM, the source and the recuperator. An apertured support in contact with the PCM in the sealed container and in thermal contact with the source and the recuperator.

A kitchen air conditioner and a control method thereof, where the kitchen is equipped with a range hood, the air conditioner including a housing and a current detection device. An electric control board is disposed in the housing, and the current detection device is disposed outside the housing and electrically connected to the electric control board. The current detection device is used for detecting a current of the range hood and determining whether the range hood works.

A first circulation channel connects a first heat demand part and first supply heat exchanger with its forward route and return route. Supply and discharge channels are connected to a first heat accumulation tank, which accommodates a second heat medium heated in the first supply heat exchanger and supplied via the supply channel. A heat accumulation switching valve changes over communication of the second heat medium serving as hot heat or cold heat flowing from the first supply heat exchanger and supplied to the first heat demand part without branching to the supply channel or branching to the supply channel and supplied to the first heat accumulation tank. A heat-accumulating hot-water-supplying air conditioner operates at a first temperature when the second heat medium from the first supply heat exchanger branches to the supply channel, and at a second lower temperature when the second heat medium does not branch to the supply channel.

A system for air-conditioning and hot-water supply is configured to selectively perform a cooling operation and a heating operation. The system includes: an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger; at least one or more indoor units each of which is connected to the outdoor unit and includes an indoor heat exchanger; a hot-water supply unit connected to the outdoor unit so as to be arranged in parallel to the at least one or more indoor units and including a refrigerant-water heat exchanger; and a controller configured to monitor an occurrence of a request for hot-water supply from the hot-water supply unit during the cooling operation performed at at least one of the indoor units, and then to start the heating operation. The controller is further configured to determine a time point to resume the cooling operation based on at least one of an outdoor temperature and a target temperature of at least one indoor unit in the heating operation.

A screen cover for attaching to an open end of a conduit of a water heater is provided. The screen cover includes a first diametric portion having a first diameter and a second diametric portion having a second diameter. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The first and second diametric portions are coaxially aligned and configured to allow flow of air or gas therethrough. The screen cover includes a shoulder portion defined between the first diametric portion and the second diametric portion. The screen cover further includes a mesh disposed at a first opening of the first diametric portion. The mesh prevents entry of external objects into the water heater through the open end of the conduit.