The present invention relates to a trigeneration energy supply system having improved cooling and system use efficiency. The trigeneration energy supply system according to one embodiment of the present invention can comprise: a vacuum pump; a vacuum chamber inside which a vacuum is created by the vacuum pump; a condensed water storage tank positioned higher than the vacuum chamber, and prepared so as to store condensed water formed when steam generated by evaporating water brought inside the vacuum chamber is transferred to the inside of the tank by the vacuum pump; a cooling pipeline arranged to pass through the inside of the vacuum chamber cooled during the water evaporation and prepared to deliver cool air to a cooling load; and a small hydroelectric power generation system for generating electrical power by allowing the condensed water stored in the condensed water storage tank to be poured from at least the height of the condensed water storage tank.

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of defrosting a heat pump of a water provision system installed in a building, the water provision system comprising the heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from outside the building to a thermal energy storage medium inside the building and a control module configured to control operation of the heat pump, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to an occupant of the building at one or more water outlets, the method being performed by the control module and comprising: determining, based on performance of the heat pump, an expected start time of a next defrost cycle; and preparing the water provision system before the expected start time of the next defrost cycle.

A fenestration assembly comprising a sliding glass assembly that slides between a fully closed position and a fully open position in which the sliding glass assembly is received into a pocket of the fenestration assembly. The pocket is covered on at least one side with insulation. The fenestration assembly may have two sliding glass assemblies. The fenestration assembly may be used in an energy efficient building system.

A cogeneration system has a fuel cell, a fuel cell system, and an indirect supply line. The fuel cell system has a first heat exchange unit, a heat storage tank, and a waste heat recovery line. The first heat exchange unit is positioned close to an outer side of the fuel cell or inside thereof and causes a heat medium to recover heat generated at the fuel cell. The heat storage tank stores the heat medium and provides heat in response to a hot-water supply demand. The waste heat recovery line causes the heat medium to circulate between the fuel cell and the heat storage tank. The indirect supply line includes a second heat exchange unit that supplies heat by causing the heat medium stored in the heat storage tank and a medium to exchange heat with each other.

The integrated solar absorption heat pump system includes an absorption heat pump assembly (AHPA) having a generator, a condenser in fluid communication with the generator, an evaporator/absorber in fluid communication with the condenser and the generator, and a heat exchanger in communicating relation with the evaporator/absorber; a solar collector in fluid communication with the generator of the AHPA; a photovoltaic thermal collector in communicating relation with the evaporator/absorber of the AHPA; a plurality of pumps configured for pumping a fluid throughout the system to provide the desired heating or cooling; a power storage source, e.g., a solar battery, in communicating relation with the photovoltaic thermal collector; and a coil unit in communicating relation to the evaporator/absorber for receiving an air-stream. The absorption heat pump assembly can include an absorber and a solution heat exchanger.

Systems, methods, and computer-implemented embodiments consistent with the inventions herein are directed to storing and/or transferring heat. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a system for transferring/storing heat comprised of a heat exchange/storage apparatus including a chamber, and a heat input device adapted to heat/provide a vapor into the chamber. Other exemplary implementations may include one or more features consistent with a heat output device through which a working medium/fluid passes, a thermal storage medium located within the chamber, and/or a heat exchange system that delivers a heat exchange medium/fluid to the thermal storage medium.

A heat exchanger having a helix coil incorporated into a stainless steel elongated variable diameter cylindrical housing and a radial direct-firing burner and a blower-driven hot flue gas to heat water. A buffer tank is incorporated within the lumen of the helix coil. At least one rope seal is disposed between adjacent coil loops of a portion of the helix coil for enhancing heat transfer to the helix coil. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger further comprises a Stirling engine comprised of a free piston having hot and cold ends that is disposed within the cavity taken up the buffer tank, wherein the hot end receives heat from the burner and the cold end is cooled by the incoming cold water line to form an electric power generator.

A solar thermal combined heating and power system includes: a solar thermal array; a thermal energy storage unit; a generator unit configured to provide electrical power to the structure; an array-to-storage heat transfer device configured to transfer thermal energy from the solar thermal array to the thermal energy storage unit; a storage-to-generator heat transfer device configured to transfer thermal energy from the thermal energy storage unit to the generator unit; a storage-to-water heat transfer device configured to transfer thermal energy from the thermal energy storage unit to the water reservoir; a storage-to-air heat transfer device configured to transfer thermal energy from the thermal energy storage unit to the interior air of the structure; and a control unit configured to operate the array-to-storage heat transfer device, the storage-to-generator heat transfer device, the storage-to-water heat transfer device, and the storage-to-air heat transfer device.

A grid-independent micro-combined heat and power system supplies heat and electricity to a building or a small number of buildings and can operate completely independently of a central-type electrical power grid. The system includes a variable speed liquid-cooled engine and a liquid-cooled generator that is configured to output an electrical supply of between approximately between 0.5 kW and 40 kW, a coolant loop, and a water circuit. The coolant loop heats a liquid using claimed heat from the genset to heat water that can be utilized as a domestic hot water source for cooking or cleaning or for a hot water source for heating. The speed of the engine may be controlled to control the output of the genset to meet prevailing electrical loads. The system may be part of a microgrid incorporating several such systems that are in electrical communication with one another and that collectively supply electrical power and heat to from a few buildings to about one hundred buildings.