Heat pump system comprising a heat medium circuit (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 310, 320, 410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460) in turn comprising a compressor (211), an expansion valve (232, 242), at least one primary heat exchanging means (422, 433, 452) between a primary-side heat medium and a respective primary heat source or sink selected from outdoor air, a water body or the ground, at least one secondary heat exchanging means (314, 315, 316) between a secondary-side heat medium and a respective secondary heat source or sink selected from indoors air, pool water and tap water, and a control means (500). The invention is characterised in that the speed of the compressor can be controlled, in that an opening of the expansion valve is adjustable, in that the speed of the compressor is controlled, and in that an output temperature of heat medium flowing out from the expansion valve is controlled by controlling the opening of the expansion valve given the controlled speed of the compressor. The invention also relates to a method.

The method of modifying an air conditioner for heating takes advantage of the features and operation of a conventional limited space air conditioner, preferably a portable room air conditioner. A hood or manifold is placed over the vents or grille that normally exhausts cold air into the room, and a flexible duct hose is connected between the hood or duct and an exhaust vent installed in a window or ceiling to exhaust cold air produced by the air conditioner outside the building. The duct from the condenser or hot air side of the air conditioner, which would normally be exhausted outside the building, is open to the room in need of heating. Thus, the hot air produced by normal operation of the air conditioner is used to heat the room.

A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.

A system of capturing waste heat includes a heat recovery unit (20) having a heat exchanger (35) arranged to transfer heat between a fluid circulating in a refrigerant loop (60) and a fluid circulating in a solar loop (70) and another heat exchanger (39) arranged to transfer heat between the fluid in the solar loop (70) and a fluid circulating in a water loop (50). Controllable first, second, and third three-way valves (V1-V3) provide or prevent, depending on fluid temperatures, an A-B, B-C, and A-C flow path through the valve. The first valve (V1) is arranged in the water loop (50) upstream of the second heat exchanger (39). The second (V2) is arranged in the solar loop (70) upstream of the second heat exchanger (39). The third valve (V3) is arranged in the solar loop (70) between the first and second heat exchangers (35, 39).

A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.

A refrigeration cycle device includes a compressor configured to compress and discharge a refrigerant containing oil, a refrigerant radiator configured to heat the ventilation air using the refrigerant discharged from the compressor as a heat source during a room interior heating, a refrigerant decompression unit configured to decompress the refrigerant having passed through the refrigerant radiator, an evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant and to function as a heat absorber during the room interior heating; and a controller configured to control the refrigerant decompression unit and to perform a fluctuation operation at least during the room interior heating. In the fluctuation operation, a throttle opening degree of the refrigerant decompression unit is changed such that a refrigerant state on a refrigerant outlet side of the evaporator is alternately changed to a superheated state having a superheat degree and a wet state containing the wet vapor.

A heat recovery system arranged to heat water includes at least one heat exchanger (9) arranged to heat water by heat exchange with waste heat. A storage reservoir (11) is arranged to store water heated by the heat exchanger (9). The heat exchanger (9) is switchable between a first mode of operation in which water is circulated by a pump (12) in a circuit that includes the storage reservoir (11) and the heat exchanger (9), and a second mode of operation in which water is circulated by the pump (12) in a circuit that by-passes the heat exchanger (9). Heated water of at least a desired minimum temperature can be supplied to at least one outlet during both the first and second modes of operation.

A system and method for heating water are provided. The system includes a first subcooler for receiving a first water flow, a second subcooler for receiving a second water flow, a first condenser in fluid communication with the first subcooler and the second subcooler for receiving water from both subcoolers, and a second condenser in fluid communication with the first condenser. The method involves receiving a flow of water, and transferring heat to the water using the system.

Heating and/or cooling systems, related methods, particularly those utilized for the heating and/or cooling of large structures, areas, or environments are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, such a system includes a stratified thermal storage tank (STST) having a hot section, cold section, and thermocline section. The system includes conduits configured to be coupled to a heating load so that a first amount of the fluid can flow between the STST and load, and also includes a heat pump including an evaporator and a gas cooler. A second amount of the fluid can flow between the STST and gas cooler. The heat pump is configured to cycle a refrigerant, so that heat transported from the STST by a third amount of the fluid to the evaporator is communicated to the gas cooler and transported to the hot section, whereby the heat can be transported for receipt by the load.

A heat recovery system for recovering waste heat from exhaust gases that are expelled through a flue that are generated as a byproduct from a heating system, comprises a venting arrangement that connects to the flue from the heating system and a motorized damper to direct the exhaust gases from the flue through the venting arrangement to an intake plenum. The intake plenum directs the exhaust gases to a heat exchanger that comprising a series of serpentine conduits between which the exhaust gases pass through. The heat exchanger is connected to exhaust plenum which is in turn connected to an exhaust fan that draws the exhaust gasses through the heat recovery system. The heat exchanger further comprises a series of inlet ports and outlet ports that add and remove coolant to the serpentine conduits at selected temperatures.