A water heating assembly, related kit, use and method make use of a temperature control near a point of use of water, so as to reduce a time response for hot water at this point of use are provided. The water heating assembly includes a tank for containing water, an inlet temperature sensor for sensing an inlet temperature of the water upstream of the tank, and a valve located upstream of the tank. The valve is actuated when the sensed inlet temperature reaches a given temperature set-point such that the water is bypassed from the tank and directly sent to the point of use. The water heating assembly is configured such that the point of use can be fed with water at the desired temperature in a reduced time, the water coming directly from the hot water source and/or the water heating assembly, thereby saving water, energy and time.

A water heater includes a tank and a heating pipe. The tank has a water storage space therein. A bottom of the tank is provided with a cold water inlet and a circulation outlet. The tank is provided with a hot water outlet located at a position not less than one half height of the tank. The heating pipe is connected with a circulation pipe outside the tank to communicate with the circulation outlet. The heating pipe extends upward from the bottom of the tank into the water storage space. The heating pipe is provided with an opening facing sideways. The opening is located at a certain height of the water storage space. An outside of the heating pipe is provided with a heating device for heating the heating pipe.

A water heater includes a water tank for storing water to be heated and a thermosiphon tube in the water tank. The thermosiphon tube has a first end in a bottom portion of the water tank and a second end in a top portion of the water tank. At least a portion of a condenser tube of a heat pump is surrounded by the thermosiphon tube to define a water flow channel between the thermosiphon tube and the condenser tube. The condenser tube is at an elevated temperature compared to water temperature in the water flow channel due to a refrigerant cycle of the heat pump. A water pump is configured to flow water through the water flow channel to heat the water in the water flow channel and deliver the heated water into the top portion of the water tank through the second end of the thermosiphon tube.

A water heater system includes a water heater and a thermal mixing valve. The water heater includes a tank and a cap that each define interior volumes. The interior volume of the tank includes a heating element is the location where fluid is heated, whereas the cap includes a volume within which the thermal mixing valve may be disposed. The thermal mixing valve pulls cool and warm water from the volume of the tank, and then discharges a mixed stream of fluid at a user desired temperature via an outlet.

A cooling system may include a cooling pump, a cooling source, a thermal energy storage, a mixing valve, a recharge valve, a recharge pump. The mixing valve may be in fluid communication with a thermal load. A first input of the mixing valve may be in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage. A second input of the mixing valve may be in fluid communication with the recharge pump. Operation of the recharge pump may cause heated cooling fluid output from the thermal load to bypass the cooling pump and flow to the second input of the mixing valve. The recharge valve may be in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage and the cooling pump. The recharge valve may regulate a recharge fluid flow comprising cooling fluid received from the thermal energy storage.

The present invention provides an energy storage apparatus. The energy storage apparatus comprises a storage tank (100, 220) for receiving thermal energy storage fluid (103, 203) therein, a first energy transfer component (107, 205) and a second energy transfer component (106, 206). The storage tank has a first portion and a second portion, each portion having a first end vertically spaced from a second end. The first portion is in fluid communication with the second portion at the respective first ends and at the respective second ends. The first energy transfer component is configured to transfer thermal energy into thermal energy storage fluid in the first portion of the storage tank. The second energy transfer component is configured to transfer thermal energy from thermal energy storage fluid in the second portion of the storage tank. The energy storage apparatus is configured such that operation of at least one of the first energy transfer component and the second energy transfer component causes convective fluid flow of the thermal energy storage fluid from the first energy transfer component towards the second energy transfer component and from the second energy transfer component towards the first energy transfer component.

The present invention relates to a hot water supply tank. A hot water supply tank, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a storage part which accommodates a fluid therein; an internal water outlet pipe through which a fluid flows from the storage part toward a heat pump; an internal water supply pipe through which the fluid flows from the heat pump toward the storage part; and an internal pipe which is disposed inside the storage part, wherein the internal pipe includes: a connection pipe which is connected to the internal water supply pipe, and at least a part of which is flexible; and a discharge pipe which has one end connected to the connection pipe and extending long, wherein a pipe through hole passing through the discharge pipe may be formed at the other end of the discharge pipe. Various other embodiments are possible.

An energy storage device for temporarily storing thermal energy includes a closed storage circuit, to which heat can be supplied by a heat source and from which heat can be withdrawn by a heat consumer. A fluid container is divided into a first fluid storage chamber for colder fluid and a second fluid storage chamber for warmer fluid by a displaceable separating element. The closed storage circuit includes at least one pump for conveying fluid from the first fluid storage chamber into the second fluid storage chamber, and/or vice versa. The energy storage device may be incorporated into a power plant.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems and method for cooling a refrigerant flow of a refrigerant circuit with a cool water flow from a cool water storage to generate a warm water flow and to cool the refrigerant flow by a subcooling temperature difference, flowing the warm water flow to the cool water storage, and thermally isolating the warm water flow from the cool water flow in the cool water storage.

The present inventions is directed to a sensible heat storage apparatus and use thereof. The apparatus comprises an inner vessel (2) comprising an internal volume (3) adapted to comprise a fluid (4); an outer container (5) enclosing said inner vessel; a thermal insulation layer (6) between said inner vessel and said outer container; and at least two integrated connections (71, 72) to connect the internal volume of said inner vessel to an outer environment through the thermal insulation layer. Said integrated connections are adapted to integrate and accommodate at least two individual sub-connections such that every integrated connection forms a single thermal bridge (8) between the inner vessel and outer container and wherein all thermal bridges are located in the bottom 75% of the total height of said outer container.