A solar module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a sandwich structure on which the plurality of photovoltaic cells is structurally supported. The sandwich structure includes top and bottom structural plates and an open-cell inner material located between the top and bottom structural plates.

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 heating system configured to be connected to a heating distribution system of a building. The heating system comprises a heat pump arrangement configured to heat a fluid; a stratified heat storage device configured to store the fluid at differentiated temperatures, a mixing arrangement; and a control device for controlling the heating system. The mixing arrangement is configured to subtract fluid from the heat storage device and to regulate the temperature of the fluid entering the heat distribution system and control the temperature of the returning fluid from the heating distribution system. The invention also relates to a method for controlling such a heating system, a computer program, a computer-readable medium, and a control device.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for integrating an energy control system with an electrical system having a utility meter connected to a utility grid, a photovoltaic (PV) system, an energy storage system, and a plurality of electrical loads. The systems and methods include determining a site condition of the electrical system, determining a type of backup configuration for the electrical system based on the determined site condition, and determining a location of at least one of a main circuit breaker, the PV system, a subpanel, and a site current transformer with respect to the energy control system based on the determined site condition and the determined type of backup configuration.

A hybrid tank and tankless hot water system with an inlet bypass and an outlet bypass are configurable between a hybrid heater configuration and an on-demand configuration. In the hybrid heater configuration, the inlet bypass supplies cold water to a cold water inlet of a storage tank and the outlet bypass supplies hot water from an outlet manifold to a recirculation inlet of the storage tank. In an on-demand configuration, the inlet bypass supplies cold water to a cold water manifold for directly providing cold water to hot water heaters and the outlet bypass supplies hot water from the outlet manifold directly to a system hot water outlet. In the bypass configuration, a storage tank and/or recirculation pump are fluidically isolated from one or more hot water heaters to facilitate their maintenance, repair, replacement while still supplying hot water on demand from the hot water heaters.

An apparatus provides a single split-bus electrical panel with a first panel section that supplies power to non-critical loads and a second panel section to supply photoelectric power to critical loads. A patch panel associated with the split-bus electrical panel is configured to enable an installer to selectively connect factory installed connections to either: (1) connect each panel section directly to utility power for full utility power to both panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the second panel section to the utility power via a microgrid interconnection device when the second panel section is presently at least partially powered by back-up photovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect both panel sections to full back-up photovoltaic power.

A system for providing a rapid threshold amount of power to a customer load during transfer between a primary power supply and a secondary power supply is disclosed. The system is electrically connected between a customer metering system and the customer load. The system includes a secondary power supply not in electrical connectivity with the primary power supply. The secondary power supply includes a secondary power supply source for generating electrical power, a switching module, and an energy storage system in electrical communication with the secondary power supply source and the switching module. The energy storage system includes a high discharge battery and is configured to rapidly discharge power to the customer load when the switching module switches between the primary power supply and the secondary power supply. The switching module includes at least one set of contacts in communication with at least one inverter of the secondary power supply.

Controlling heating and cooling in a conditioned space utilizes a fluid circulating in a thermally conductive structure in fluid connection with a hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and a ground heat exchanger. Air is moved past the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger, the air having fresh air supply and stale air exhaust. Sensors located throughout the conditioned space send data to a controller. User input to the controller sets the desired set point temperature and humidity. Based upon the set point temperature and humidity and sensor data, the controller sends signals to various devices to manipulate the flow of the fluid and the air in order to achieve the desired set point temperature and humidity in the conditioned space. The temperature of the fluid is kept less than the dew point at the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and the temperature of the fluid is kept greater than the dew point at the thermally conductive structure.

A waste heat recovery device with a first heat medium side inlet; a first heat medium side outlet; a first heat medium flow path; a second heat medium side inlet; a second heat medium side outlet; a second heat medium flow path; a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the first heat medium and second heat medium; an expansion tank in the first heat medium flow path; a bypass flow path that causes the first heat medium to flow and bypass the heat exchanger; and a mixer where the bypass flow path and first heat medium flow path merge together. The mixer is configured to adjust a ratio of a flow rate of the first heat medium in the bypass flow path and a flow rate of the first heat medium in the heat exchanger, such that the temperature of the first heat medium after merging approaches a predetermined temperature.

The present disclosure provides a photovoltaic (PV) disconnect device used in an electrical system. The PV disconnect device includes a relay component electrically coupled to a feed circuit of a backup PV power generation system and a connector port electrically coupled to an energy control system. The PV disconnect device includes a sensor circuit to measure at least one of a voltage, a current, and a current frequency of the feed circuit of the backup PV power generation system. The PV disconnect device includes a controller operatively coupled to the relay component, the sensor circuit, and the connector port. The controller receives and processes the voltage, the current, and the current frequency measurements. The controller selectively actuates the relay component based on the processed voltage, current, and current frequency measurements.