An energy bank is provided, comprising a heat exchanger within an enclosure, with an input-side circuit for connection to an energy source; an output-side circuit for connection to an energy sink; and a phase-change material for energy storage. The energy bank includes one or more sensors to measure energy stored as latent heat, an optical source to launch light into the phase change material, and an optical sensing arrangement to detect light launched from the source after passing through the phase change material. Also provided is an installation comprising an energy bank-coupled between a heat pumpand the hot water system, a processor configured to trigger the starting of the heat pump based on sensor data, and a method of controlling a heat pump in such an installation using sensor data.

A computer-implemented method monitors and/or controls domestic hot water production and/or distribution. The method includes detecting at least two real temperatures of a fluid stored in a heat storage tank at two different positions along a height of the heat storage tank at least at points in time, and acquiring a temperature distribution pattern of heat stored in the heat storage tank and/or corresponding heat distribution pattern data by applying a temperature-distribution-pattern-algorithm to the detected real temperatures detected at the points in time. The fluid is sanitary hot water, and the heat storage tank is a pressurized tank. A computer may carry out the method. The computer may be part of a system. A computer program may include instructions to cause the controller of to execute the method. The computer program may be stored on a computer-readable medium.

A thermal storage system includes: a water heater; memory circuitry; acquiring circuitry configured to acquire information regarding weather forecast for a target date for which an operation schedule for the water heater is arranged and a region where the water heater has been installed; supply capacity forecast circuitry configured to determine an hourly delivery capacity of the water heater on the target date on the basis of the information regarding weather forecast; demand forecast circuitry configured to forecast hourly consumption of hot water on the target date on the basis of data stored in the memory circuitry and indicating past change in consumption of hot water; and planning circuitry configured to determine the operation schedule that avoids shortage of hot water supply on the basis of the hourly delivery capacity and the hourly consumption of hot water.

An energy bank includes an enclosure, and within the enclosure: an input-side circuit for connection to an energy source; an output-side circuit for connection to an energy sink; and a phase-change material (PCM) for the storage of energy; wherein the PCM within the enclosure includes a plurality of resilient bodies that are configured to: reduce in volume in response to an increase in pressure caused by a phase change of the PCM; and expand again in response to a reduction in pressure caused by a reverse phase change of the PCM. The energy bank may have sensors to provide measurement data indicative of the amount of energy stored as latent heat in the PCM. An installation comprises an in-building hot water system including such an energy bank, the input-side circuit being coupled to a heat pump, and the output-side circuit being coupled to the in-building hot water system.

An air to water heat pump system is configured to minimize operating cost of the system utilizing one or more of hot water demand patterns, present or predicted ambient conditions, and/or electrical power cost. The system may be configured to reduce production and/or storage of hot water during periods of low demand, and increase production and storage of hot or hotter water immediately prior to a period of predicted high demand for hot water. The system may be configured to take into account ambient weather conditions to increase production and storage of hot water during favorable ambient conditions, and/or to increase production and storage of hot water prior to predicted cold ambient conditions.

An air to water heat pump system is configured to minimize operating cost of the system utilizing one or more of hot water demand patterns, present or predicted ambient conditions, and/or electrical power cost. The system may be configured to reduce production and/or storage of hot water during periods of low demand, and increase production and storage of hot or hotter water immediately prior to a period of predicted high demand for hot water. The system may be configured to take into account ambient weather conditions to increase production and storage of hot water during favorable ambient conditions, and/or to increase production and storage of hot water prior to predicted cold ambient conditions.

A computer-implemented method predictively prepares a water provision system installed in a building. The water provision system includes 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 heat pump. The water provision system is 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 is performed by the control module and includes: receiving a current location of the occupant, estimating an expected arrival time for the occupant to arrive at the building based on the current location, and determining an expected occupancy of the building based on the expected arrival time.

A heat pump water heater has a tank, a heat source, and a heat pump system. The heat pump system has a refrigerant path, at least a portion of which is in thermal communication with the water tank volume so that heat transfers from refrigerant to the water tank volume. A fan causes air to flow through a housing, and another portion of the refrigerant path includes an evaporator in the housing. The fan is within the housing and may further be within a second housing. The first housing may comprise a baffle to direct air flow. The fan may be a variable speed fan in communication with a controller, so that the controller controls the fan speed depending on a temperature of the refrigerant.

The invention relates to a method for operating a circulation system comprising a cooling device with an input port and an output port for cooling water. The invention also relates to a circulation system for implementing said method.