A hydronic system (1) includes a side (3) with a first port (21) connected with a source element output (23), a second port (27) connected with a source element input (29), and a controllable primary side flow actuator (9) for providing a primary side flow (q.sub.1). Another side (5) has a third port (31) connected with a load element input (33), a fourth port (35) connected with a load element output (37), and a controllable secondary side flow actuator (13) providing a secondary side flow (q.sub.2). A transfer element (17) is connected with the first port, the second port, the third port and the fourth port. A flow control module (39) adapts a transfer element thermal power transfer by controlling the primary side flow actuator and/or the secondary side flow actuator by minimizing a signed deviation value (ΔΔv) that is correlated with the transfer element thermal power transfer.

A local energy distributing system includes a local feed conduit; a local return conduit; a central heat exchanger connected to a heating grid having a feed conduit for an incoming flow of heat transfer fluid having a first temperature in the range of 50-120° C., and a return conduit for a return flow of heat transfer fluid having a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, wherein the central heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat from the incoming flow of heat transfer fluid to an outgoing flow of local heat transfer fluid in the local feed conduit. The system also includes a plurality of local heating systems, each having an inlet connected to the local feed conduit and an outlet connected to the local return conduit, wherein each local heating system is configured to provide hot water and/or comfort heating to a building.

The present invention relates to environmental control systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring the performance of environmental control systems arranged to control at least one environmental characteristic in an environment. The method comprises: identifying an activation period during which the environmental control system is expected to be activated to control an environmental characteristic; recording a data set of sensor data measured during the activation period relating to the environmental characteristic; receiving control data indicating a target value configured at the environmental control system for the environmental characteristic; analysing the sensor data set in dependence on the target value to determine whether the sensor data is consistent with an expected response of the environmental characteristic during the activation period; and detecting an underperformance condition in response to determining that the sensor data is not consistent with the expected response.

The present invention relates to a local thermal energy consumer assembly and a local thermal energy generator assembly to be connected to a thermal energy circuit comprising a hot and a cold conduit. The local thermal energy consumer assembly is selectively connected, via a pump or a valve to the hot conduit. The local thermal energy generator assembly is selectively connected, via a pump or a valve to the cold conduit. The use of either the valve or the pump is controlled by determining a local pressure difference between heat transfer liquid of the hot and the cold conduits.

A heat pump may include a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a first temperature sensor configured to detect an outdoor temperature, a second temperature sensor provided in heating pipes connected to a heating device, and a controller. Based on a first sensing value of the first temperature sensor, the controller may be configured to control a compressor, control power to a boiler, and/or calculate an expected efficiency of the heat pump. Based on the expected efficiency and/or a second sensing value of a second temperature sensor, the controller may be configured to control power to the boiler.

A district energy distributing system is disclosed. The system comprises a geothermal heat source system comprising a geothermal heat source and a feed conduit for a flow of geothermally heated water from the geothermal heat source. The system further comprises a district feed conduit, a district return conduit and a plurality of local heating systems, each having an inlet connected to the district feed conduit and an outlet connected to the district return conduit, wherein each local heating system is configured to provide hot water and/or comfort heating to a building, A central heat exchanger is connected to the feed conduit of the geothermal heat source system such that an incoming flow of geothermally heated water is provided to the central heat exchanger.

The present invention relates to a device (1) for filtering a fluid circulating in a plumbing and heating system, said device comprising a body (2) which defines therewithin a filtration chamber (3) that is intended to have a fluid to be subjected to filtration pass through it. The body is provided with a first inlet/outlet opening (10), a second inlet/outlet opening (20) and a third inlet/outlet opening (30): each one of them sets the filtration chamber (3) in communication with the outside of the device and is associable with a line of the system so as to receive therefrom, or to send thereto, fluid entering, or exiting from, said body of the device. The device operates a passage of fluid through the filtration chamber (3), in a selective manner according to a plurality of operative configurations, from one opening among said first inlet/outlet opening (10), second inlet/outlet opening (20) and third inlet/outlet opening (30) to another opening among said first inlet/outlet opening (10), second inlet/outlet opening (20) and third inlet/outlet opening (30). The device further comprises: filtering members (40) that are housed inside the filtration chamber (3) and operatively interposed between the inlet/outlet openings to carry out filtering of the fluid passing through the filtration chamber; a flow-directing insert (70) that is housed inside the filtration chamber (3) and configured to channel the fluid passing through the filtration chamber, in each one of the operative configurations, so that the fluid passes at least partially through the filtering members (40).

A water heating system can include a water heater having a tank, and a first temperature sensor disposed toward a top end of the tank to measure a first temperature and a second temperature sensor disposed toward a bottom end of the tank to measure a second temperature. The water heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, where the controller determines an amount of heated water in the tank based on a plurality of algorithms and measurements made by the first and second temperature sensors. The plurality of algorithms solves for at least one calculated temperature for at least one point between a first location of the first temperature sensor and a second location of the second temperature sensor, where the at least one calculated temperature is used to determine the amount of heated water in the tank.

A local heating system is presented. The local heating system comprising: a first heat source (10) connectable to a heating grid (110) and arranged to extract heat from the heating grid (110); a second heat source (20) connectable to an electrical energy grid (120) and to transform electricity feed through the electrical energy grid (120) into heat; a heat emitting device (30); a distribution system (40) for circulating heat transfer fluid between the heat emitting device (30) and the first and second heat sources (10, 20); and a controller (50) configured to control the first and second heat source's (10, 20) relative outtake of heat from the heating grid (110) and the electrical energy grid (120), respectively.

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