Systems and methods for selectively producing steam from solar collectors and heaters are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes directing a flow of water to a solar collector, directing the flow of water to a gas-fired heater, and, as a result of heating the flow of water at the solar collector and the gas-fired heater, forming steam from the flow of water. The method further includes changing a sequence by which at least a portion of the flow passes through the solar collector and the gas-fired heater.

Provided are Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems comprising Phase Change Material (PCMs) compositions for thermal management in different applications such as building, automotive, and industrial applications. Provided are TES systems comprising encapsulated PCMs and a heat transfer medium comprising a neutralizing agent and/or an ion exchange resin capable of neutralizing the acidic or basic PCM contained in the capsules, should the PCM permeate the walls of the capsules or otherwise be released into the surrounding heat transfer medium.

Provided is an hybrid solar heat absorption cooling system comprising: an absorption refrigerator; a solar heat steam generator configured to generate steam using solar heat; a daytime steam supplying unit configured to supply steam generated by the solar heat steam generator during the day as a heat source for the absorption refrigerator; a daytime hot water storage tank configured to store hot water discharged from the absorption refrigerator during the day; a nighttime hot water supplying unit configured to supply hot water stored in the daytime hot water storage tank during the night as a heat source for the absorption refrigerator; a nighttime hot water storage tank configured to store hot water discharged from the absorption refrigerator during the night; and a daytime hot water supplying unit configured to supply hot water stored in the nighttime hot water storage tank during the day to the solar heat steam generator.

Provided is a method of disinfecting a hot water supply system having a plurality of controllable hot-water outlets and a water heating arrangement including an energy store comprising a phase change material that has a phase transition temperature of less than 60 Celsius, the method comprising: informing an operator of a future disinfection event; increasing a hot water supply temperature from a pre-event temperature of less than 60 Celsius to a disinfection temperature; providing a signal to the operator to cause the operator to open a first of the hot water outlets; providing a signal to the operator to close the first outlet after a disinfection period; providing a signal to the operator to open another hot water outlet; providing a signal to the operator to close the another hot water outlet after a disinfection period; and repeating the signalling to the operator to open and then, after a disinfection period, to close each of the plurality of controllable hot-water outlets; reducing the hot water supply temperature to the pre-event temperature of less than 60 Celsius from the disinfection temperature; and indicating to the operator the completion of the disinfection event. A corresponding hot water supply system is also provided, the system preferably including a heat pump.

A thermal energy supply system, including: a solar concentrating device, a solar storage tank including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, a biomass power station including a biomass boiler, a central refrigeration and ice maker, and a central hot water supply tank. The solar concentrating device is connected to the solar storage tank. The inlet of the first heat exchanger of the solar storage tank is connected to the outlet of a feedwater pump of the biomass boiler. The outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of a water feeding system of the biomass boiler. The inlet pipe of the second heat exchanger of the solar storage tank is connected to the outlet pipe of a water purification plant. The outlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to a thermal energy input pipe of the central refrigeration and ice maker.

A conditional climate control system is presented for maximizing the comfort level of the climate within a building while minimizing the usage of an on-demand energy source. An energy reserve created by an intermittent energy source or sources is monitored, and when it has surpassed a predetermined threshold level the climate conditions of a building are set to more desirable but energy intensive levels from energy-saving levels.

A seasonal thermal energy storage system for heat supply and removal, including an energy-storage device, a solar collector, a refrigerating unit, and a water supply device in closed-loop connection to a user terminal. The energy-storage device includes at least a heat source storage pond and a cold source storage pond. The heat source storage pond and the cold source storage pond are connected to water source via first water pumps. The water supply device includes a hot water supply pool connected to the heat source storage pond and a cold water supply pool connected to the cold source storage pond. The solar collector is connected to the heat source storage pond and the hot water supply pool via second water pumps. The refrigerating unit is connected to the hot water supply pool and the cold water supply pool via third water pumps.

A heat driven liquid close-loop automatic circulating system is provided. This system circulates the liquid in a close-loop by the collected heat in the loop. The system may operate without external power for the pump. The heat driven liquid close-loop automatic circulating system may employ a modified self-powered pump for heated liquid. The pump includes an airtight container for containing the heated liquid, a inlet and a outlet of the heated liquid, further more the modified self-powered pump has a breathing channel with a liquid vapor condensing and reflux structure. The heat driven liquid close-loop automatic circulating system may be a solar heated liquid close-loop automatic circulating system with a solar heat collector.

An installation includes an in-building hot water supply system, a hot water heat pump, an energy storage arrangement containing a mass of phase change material and a heat exchanger coupled between the hot water system and the heat pump, and a processor to provide a signal to the heat pump based on the opening of an outlet of the hot water supply system. The mass of phase change material has enough latent heat capacity to heat to a predetermined temperature a predetermined quantity of water in the interval from the opening of an outlet of the hot water supply system until at least the heat pump begins to heat water in the hot water supply system. Also provided is a method of controlling a heat pump in such an installation.

Subterranean thermal capacitance for an environmental-control apparatus mechanized via a solar thermal system. The method and apparatus use a solar collector and a plurality of heating-energy-storage cells that are each thermally insulated from one another, wherein heating energy-transfer fluid (HETF) coming from the solar collector is transferred to the energy-storage cell having the highest temperature that is greater than the temperature of the HETF, in order to segregate energy-storage cells to more efficiently store heating energy. Some embodiments further include an energy radiator that radiates thermal energy to an environment and thereby cools a cooling-energy-transfer fluid (CETF) and a plurality of cooling-energy-storage cells that are each thermally insulated from one another, wherein the CETF coming from the energy radiator is transferred to the cooling-energy-storage cell having the lowest temperature that is lower than the temperature of the ETF, in order to segregate cooling-energy-storage cells to more efficiently store cooling energy.