A hot-water supply apparatus is configured to perform a heat storage operation of storing heat of a heat medium and a hot-water supply operation of supplying hot water to a hot-water demand side through use of the heat of the heat medium. The hot-water supply apparatus includes a heat medium circuit through which the heat medium circulates, a latent heat storage device having a latent heat storage material, the latent heat storage device being configured to store heat and reject heat through transfer of heat between the latent heat storage material and the heat medium, a heat medium heat storage device in which the heat medium is stored so that thermal stratification is formed, and a heating device configured to heat the heat medium. The heating device heats at least the heat medium flowing out from a lower portion of the heat medium heat storage device.

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of modulating energy consumption by a water provision system, the water provision system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control operation of the water provision system, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to a water outlet, the method being performed by the control module and comprising: upon determining that the water outlet is turned on, determining an elapse time from an initial time when the method is implemented; setting a temperature for heated water being provided to the water outlet based on the elapse time; and progressively reducing the temperature for heated water being provided to the water outlet as the elapse time increases until a target temperature is reached.

The disclosed technology includes an on-demand water heater which uses a heat pump to heat the fluid. The on-demand heat pump water heater can have a low fluid capacity heating chamber which has an inlet and an outlet, a heat pump for heating the fluid, and a controller to control the heat pump and maintain the temperature of the fluid at a predetermined temperature. The on-demand heat pump water heater can include one or more temperature sensors, flow sensors, fluid mixing valves, or supplemental heat sources.

A method for operating a heat pump water heater appliance positioned with a building is provided. The method includes receiving a measurement of ambient temperature about the building via a network and also getting a measurement of ambient temperature about the heat pump water heater appliance within the building. The method further includes heating water within the heat pump water heater appliance with only a sealed system of the heat pump water heater appliance or with only a secondary heating element of the heat pump water heater appliance based upon the measurement of ambient temperature about the building and the measurement of ambient temperature about the heat pump water heater appliance within the building.

An apparatus for heating water has a tank for storing water and an air conditioning system that defines a refrigerant flow path through which refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow path passes through the heat exchanger so that refrigerant heat is contributed to the tank. A control system controls operation of the water heating apparatus.

A method of and system for heating and/or cooling a fluid, the method comprising moving the fluid through a secondary side of a heat exchanger and controlling the temperature of a primary side of the heat exchanger such that the temperature of the primary side of the heat exchanger is maintained substantially at a determined temperature interval from a reference temperature which is a function of at least one of: a temperature of an inlet to the secondary side and a temperature of an outlet of the secondary side.

An installation includes an in-building hot water supply system, a hot water heat pump, an energy storage arrangement containing a mass of phase change material and a heat exchanger coupled between the hot water system and the heat pump, and a processor to provide a signal to the heat pump based on the opening of an outlet of the hot water supply system. The mass of phase change material has enough latent heat capacity to heat to a predetermined temperature a predetermined quantity of water in the interval from the opening of an outlet of the hot water supply system until at least the heat pump begins to heat water in the hot water supply system. Also provided is a method of controlling a heat pump in such an installation.

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of modulating energy consumption by a water provision system, the water provision system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control operation of the water provision system, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to a water outlet, the method being performed by the control module and comprising: setting a first temperature for heated water being provided to the water outlet; setting a second temperature for heated water being provided to the water outlet, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; and upon determining that the water outlet is turned on, alternating a temperature of heated water provided to the water outlet between the first temperature and the second temperature.

A water heater is provided that heats water in a storage tank and discharges the heated water. The water heater includes a storage tank configured to store water, at least one first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water stored in the storage tank, a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature related to an outside of the water heater, a first heat exchanger comprising at least one heating element configured to heat the water, a second heat exchanger comprising a heat pump system and configured to heat the water, and a controller configured to control at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger based on a temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor and a set water temperature.

A hybrid heat pump system comprise a geothermal heat pump system, an air source heat pump system, and a buffer heat-storage configured to exchange a heat with the geothermal heat pump system and the air source heat pump system and to store therein the exchanged heat. The buffer heat-storage comprises fluid circulation lines fluid-coupled to and between an air heater and the buffer heat-storage to realize a circulation of a refrigerant fluid therebetween, which receives a heat energy from the buffer heat-storage, wherein the air heater is configured to heat the air thereto from an outdoor using the refrigerant fluid.