A water heater includes a heat exchanger, a heat pump, a first valve in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the heat pump, and a controller configured to control the first valve. The first valve can be configured to direct water flow toward at least one of the gas heater or the electric heat pump. A second valve in fluid communication with the first valve and the heat pump can be provided, and the controller can be further configured to control the second valve. A water heater inlet and a water heater outlet can be included and in fluid communication with the first valve, and the controller can be configured to monitor a temperature of water entering the water heater inlet and control the first valve dependent upon the monitored temperature.

A heater tank for a heat pump system having a structure in which a capacity of a storage space may be changed as hot fluid is discharged. For example, the heater tank may include a main body having an internal space and one open side, and a capacity changing member that forms a storage space, in which a hot fluid, such as water may be stored, by closing the one open side in the internal space of the main body, and being moved so that a capacity of the storage space may be changed as the hot fluid is discharged.

A partition includes a first structure, a deformable partitioning portion connected to the first structure, and an air-environment adjusting portion disposed at at least one of the first structure and the deformable partitioning portion. The deformable partitioning portion has a first end portion on a side connected to the first structure and a second end portion on a distal side from the first end portion. The deformable partitioning portion partitions a predetermined space with respect to an adjacent space. The air-environment adjusting portion includes at least one of a cooling portion configured to cool air, a heating portion configured to heat air, and an airflow generating portion configured to generate an airflow.

One aspect, as provided herein, is directed to a multi-stage fluid control system for a fluid source heat pump system. This embodiment comprises compressors configured to operate as separate, heat exchange stages, condensers each being fluidly coupled to at least one of the compressors by refrigerant tubing and having intake ends coupled together by a fluid intake manifold. This embodiment further includes output conduits coupled to each of the condensers and that are couplable to a distal location. Further included is a modulating valve control system interposed the output conduits. The modulating valve control system is configured to stage a flow of fluid through the condensers based on a number of operating compressors.

The present disclosure provides hot water heating systems and methods for heating the atmosphere within a predefined area. The systems include a hybrid water heating and storage apparatus configured to heat and store water including a heat pump and an electric heating tank. The systems include a recirculating pump configured to selectively draw a hot output flow of heated water from the electric heating tank, pass the heated water through a heat exchange fixture to heat the atmosphere within a predefined area, and direct the water back to the electric heating tank from the heat exchange fixture as a cold input flow. The systems further include thermostat electrically coupled to the recirculating pump and positioned within the predefined area configured to sense the temperature of the atmosphere within the first predefined area and selective operate of the recirculating pump based on a sensed temperature and a user selected temperature.

The present invention is generally directed to a system for providing heating, cooling, and domestic hot water (DHW) using a water source heat pump, the system including: a compressor; a source heat exchanger; a load heat exchanger; a DHW heat exchanger; and a DHW storage tank. In some embodiments, the system may be concealable, and mounted between two wall studs. In some embodiments, a water-to-water water source heat pump and DHW storage tank may be mounted between the same wall studs, the system having a width of no more than 14.5″ and a depth of no more than 7″. In some embodiments, in a heating cycle high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant in a gaseous phase is provided to both a brazed plate DHW heat exchanger and a brazed plate load heat exchanger in a parallel manner so one of the heat exchangers receives the refrigerant at a time.

A combined cooling and heating system including a district cooling grid having a feed conduit for an incoming flow of cooling fluid having a first temperature, and a return conduit for a return flow of cooling fluid having a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature; a local cooling system being configured to absorb heat from a first building and comprising a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet; and a local heating system being configured to heat the first or a second building and comprising a heat pump having a heat pump inlet and a heat pump outlet. The heat exchanger inlet is connected to the feed conduit of the district cooling grid; and the heat pump inlet is connected to the return conduit of the district cooling grid and to the heat exchanger outlet.

A direct heat exchange system uniformly transfers heat through a multiphase substance, such as a refrigerant, to a barrier that emits heat radiantly and convectively. The system solely uses the multiphase substance to exchange heat between the multiphase substance and the barrier. No intermediary fluids are used. A heat exchange portion, such as a heat pump, absorbs and emits heat and transfers it to the multiphase substance. A tube portion carries the multiphase substance to the barrier. The heat is directly exchanged between the tube and the barrier. The barrier emits radiant heat or absorbs heat. A tube fastener fastens the tube to the barrier. A thermal mass portion stores heat behind the barrier. A dehumidification coil helps prevent indoor condensation and tempers the temperature of the air proximal to the barrier by drying the air. A decorative panel covers the tube portion and the thermal mass portion.

Heat pump system (100) comprising at least one heat medium circuit (210,220,230,240,250,310,320,410,420,430,440,450,460) in turn comprising a compressor (211), an expansion valve (232,242), at least two different primary heat sources or sinks selected from outdoor air, a water body, the ground or exhaust air, at least one of two different secondary heat sources or sinks selected from indoors air, pool water and tap water, a respective temperature sensor (412,432) at each of said primary heat sources or sinks, a valve means (421,431,451) for selectively directing the primary-side heat medium to at least one of said primary heat exchanging means, and a control means (500). The invention is characterised in that, in a secondary-side heating operating mode, the temperature of said primary heat sources or sinks is measured, and in that the primary-side heat medium is directed only to available primary heat exchanging means associated with the heat sources or sinks with the highest temperature. The invention also relates to a method.

Systems and methods for a thermosyphonic water heating system for a storage tank. A DC heat pump receives power from a DC power source and heats water via a heat exchanger using a thermosyphonic piping system. A passive back-flushing having a cold water inlet pipe connected to the hot water return pipe draws cold water into the storage tank through the heat exchanger. A vertical array of temperature sensors distributed throughout the storage tank monitor temperature of stored water at multiple heights and a communication unit communicates monitored data to an external control device.