In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to preventing or lessening ice in remote water tanks. The remote water tanks can include a body at least partially defining a chamber that receives a liquid and having an open top portion that provides one or more animals access to the liquid. Further, a heat exchanger can be at least partially received within the chamber, and can receive a thermal transfer fluid that is circulated therethrough to maintain a temperature of the liquid in the chamber. Also, an external heat collector can be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to transfer solar or other heat to the thermal transfer fluid as the thermal transfer fluid is circulated therethrough.

A heating appliance of the electric radiator type, including a housing containing a DC operated electrical energy storage device charged by an electrical power supply source outside the appliance, and at least one heating body that can be powered by the electrical power supply source and/or by the electrical energy storage device. The housing also comprises at least one air inlet arranged in a lower part of the housing to allow air to enter the space internally defined by the housing, and at least one air outlet arranged in an upper part of the housing to allow the air to leave the space. The electrical energy storage device is arranged across the air flow that circulates, in the space, from the at least one air inlet to the at least one air outlet, in a location situated, as observed in the direction of circulation of the flow, between the at least one air inlet and the at least one heating body.

A water heater may include a water tank, a burner, a pilot for igniting the burner, an ignitor for igniting the pilot, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot, a controller for controlling an ignition sequence of the pilot using the ignitor, and a rechargeable power storage device for supplying power to the ignitor and the controller. The rechargeable power storage device may be rechargeable using the energy produced by the thermoelectric device. The controller is configured to selectively run only the pilot for at least part of a heating cycle to increase the recharge time of the rechargeable power storage device while still heating the water in the water heater.

Disclosed is a system for the production of hot or cold water including: a water reservoir suitable for supplying water to a thermal conditioning device, and/or to a tap; a refrigeration unit having heat exchangers, of which one of the two heat exchanger is immersed in a water receptacle; pipes providing communication between the water reservoir, the water receptacle, a water network, the tap and thermal conditioning devices. The system further includes a box body containing the refrigeration unit and a ventilation mechanism configured to generate an airflow passing through the heat exchangers of the refrigerating unit.

A power supply system for an a.c. resistive element (10) comprises a first input point for an a.c. mains power source (14) and a second input point for d.c. power derived from photovoltaic panels and/or wind generators (24). Switches (18, 36) are provided between the power input points and the element (10). Timers (60, 62) are provided for delaying closing of that one of the switches (18, 36) that is open on change over from one power source to the other whereby the closed switch opens before the open switch closes. The voltage at the d.c. power input point is detected by a voltage sensor (42). The output from the sensor (42) powers an optical switch (46) which operates a relay (58) which in turn supplies power to one or other of the timers (60, 62) and one or other of the switches (18, 36).

A water heater may include a water tank, a burner, a pilot for igniting the burner, an ignitor for igniting the pilot, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot, a controller for controlling an ignition sequence of the pilot using the ignitor, and a rechargeable power storage device for supplying power to the ignitor and the controller. The rechargeable power storage device may be rechargeable using the energy produced by the thermoelectric device. The controller is configured to selectively run only the pilot for at least part of a heating cycle to increase the recharge time of the rechargeable power storage device while still heating the water in the water heater.

A portable forced air heater including a housing, a heating element located within the housing, a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the portable heater, a communications device configured to communicate with an external device, and a controller having an electrical processor and memory. The controller is configured to receive, from the sensor, the characteristic of the portable heater, and output, via the communications device, a signal indicative of the characteristic of the portable heater to the external device.

The present disclosure belongs to technical field of thermoelectricity, particularly relates to a cogeneration apparatus, including a thermal collector and a thermoelectric power generation component, the thermoelectric power generation component is disposed on the thermal collector and an end face at one side contacts with the thermal collector, the cogeneration apparatus can collect the heat generated after gas combustion through the thermal collector, the heat is used for heating one end of the thermoelectric power generation component, so that two ends of the thermoelectric power generation component form a temperature difference, thereby realizing power generation. In this solution, a compensating distance is disposed between an upper end of the thermoelectric power generation component and an upper end of the thermal collector. The whole power generation efficiency of the apparatus is improved through a relationship between the output power of the thermoelectric power generation component and the compensating distance.

An apparatus includes a heating body and batteries. The batteries are grouped so as to form a battery bank having a parallelepiped shape which defines anterior and posterior faces of this bank. The heating body forms at least one face located along one of the anterior or posterior faces of the battery bank, or above the battery bank. The apparatus also includes a first thermal insulation plate placed between the battery bank and the heating body.

A combined heat, cooling and power system is configured to generate energy as well capture a large percentage of energy that would otherwise be lost using components, including heat transfer components, embedded within a vessel to transfer energy in the form of heat to liquid within the vessel.