Automated systems, methods, techniques, processes, products and product components are provided to implement an advanced and energy efficient hot water heating system control scheme that incorporates an advanced hot water reset for the boilers, including condensing boilers in hydronic systems. The advanced controls are provided to substantially enhance combustion (heating) efficiency for the boilers. The disclosed schemes replace conventional linear hot water reset with a device which can stand alone or integrate with boiler control technology or an existing building automation system to create a unique (non-linear) boiler reset curve based on various inputs. The schemes allow boiler control systems to learn and adapt over time maximizing the efficiency of a condensing boiler plant, by providing an independent, intelligent, economical, monitorable and manipulable solution eliminating the need of a head end BAS control system.

A water tank management system that connects either to a hot water tank directly or to an electric panel connected to the tank. The system comprises at least two temperature sensors, each of which is attached on the surface of the hot water tank near respective heating elements. The system comprises a control box which includes a solid-state relay that modulates the flow of electrical power to the heating elements in order to lower the energy used by the tank. The modulation is controlled by a program stored in a memory in the control box or communicated to the control box via an external controller. The system optionally comprises a third temperature sensor placed outdoors to measure the ambient outdoor temperature. With this feature, the system can activate a program to reduce energy consumption when the outdoor ambient temperature is outside a critical temperature range.

An outdoor unit includes an air heat exchanger; a compressor; a water heat exchanger; an expansion valve; a fan that moves air outside the outdoor unit into the air heat exchanger; a motor that rotates the fan; a power device used for driving the compressor; a heat sink located in a space that is an extension portion beyond the air heat exchanger, of a channel of air moved by rotation of the fan during heating of the water from outside the outdoor unit into the air heat exchanger, where the heat sink dissipates heat generated by the power device during driving of the compressor; and a control unit that provides control, upon completion of a water heating operation, to drive the compressor, to open the expansion valve, and to rotate the fan in the same direction as the rotation direction of the fan during heating of the water.

A system and method for climate control of an environment in a building are provided. The system includes a first loop and second loop for circulating a heating medium. The system also includes a boiler, an energy optimizer and a controller. The method involves circulating a heating medium, providing heat to the heating medium, and controlling the boiler based on various inputs.

A washer liquid supply system is disclosed which includes: a washer tank mounted on a vehicle to store washer liquid; a supply section mounted on the vehicle to supply the washer liquid in the washer tank to an object of the vehicle; a heat-retaining tank mounted on the vehicle and disposed between the washer tank and the supply section to temporarily store the washer liquid supplied from the washer tank to the supply section; a delivering section mounted on the vehicle to deliver the washer liquid stored in the washer tank to the supply section through the heat-retaining tank; and a control section that controls the delivering section, wherein the control section controls the delivering section to temporarily increase a delivering amount of the washer liquid at an initial time of supplying the washer liquid.

A method and a system for increasing the degree days in the immediate environment of fruit bearing vines for the cultivation of particular fruit bearing vines, such as non-rustic vinifera variety vines, in unfavourable climatic regions where the degree days is insufficient for the full maturity of the fruit, is described. Rows of the vines are protected in removable shelters which have a removable tarp cover disposed over a support frame structure to shield the rows of vines from the harsh, vine damaging, winter month temperatures while keeping the vines in a controlled temperature environment. Heated liquid circulation conduits are supported in the shelters at predetermined locations and provide controlled heat during the winter months to prevent the vines and the cordon bearing spuds of the vines from damaging cold temperatures. In the early spring the roots are activated early and the tarp is removed and a transparent film sheet covering is substituted to admit sunlight to help activate the vine early to gain degree days. The method and system is also applicable to semi-rustic or rustic wine producing grape vines grown in these climatic regions having degree days down to about 1200.

A heat pump boiler is disclosed. The heat pump boiler includes a compressor. The heat pump boiler further includes an exterior heat exchanger that is configured to transfer heat between refrigerant and exterior air. The heat pump boiler further includes an interior heat exchanger that is configured to transfer heat between refrigerant and water. The heat pump boiler further includes a channel change valve that is configured to provide refrigerant compressed by the compressor to the exterior heat exchanger or the interior heat exchanger. The heat pump boiler further includes a first boiler heat exchanger that is configured to heat water that has passed through the interior heat exchanger from heat generated through combustion. The heat pump boiler further includes a second boiler heat exchanger that is configured to transfer heat between refrigerant and gas discharged from the first boiler heat exchanger.

A system and method for climate control of an environment in a building are provided. The system includes a first loop and second loop for circulating a heating medium. The system also includes a boiler, an energy optimizer and a controller. The method involves circulating a heating medium, providing heat to the heating medium, and controlling the boiler based on various inputs.

An electrical radiator type heating appliance comprises a case housing a heater member producing a first flow of calories (F1) when an input of the heater member is powered by a direct electric voltage. The heating appliance also comprises a voltage converter implanted in the case and comprising an input provided with connection elements for connecting the voltage converter to an electric power supply source and an output delivering a direct electric voltage adapted to directly or indirectly power the input of the heater member.

An electrical radiator type heating appliance (10) comprises a case (11) housing a heater member (12) producing a first flow of calories (F1) when an input (121) of the heater member (12) is powered by a direct electric voltage. The heating appliance (10) also comprises a voltage converter (14) implanted in the case (11) and comprising an input (141) provided with connection elements for connecting the voltage converter (14) to an electric power supply source (13) and an output (142) delivering a direct electric voltage adapted to directly or indirectly power the input (121) of the heater member (12).