Patent classifications
Y02B30/18
COMBINED HOT WATER AND AIR HEATING AND CONDITIONING SYSTEM INCLUDING HEAT PUMP
A combined hot water and air heating and conditioning system including a first heat exchanger, a heat pump, a chilling tower loop, a burner and a second heat exchanger to provide hot water, air heating and air cooling. The system provides hot water, air heating and cooling all in one single unit. The system utilizes a heat pump to remove heat from ambient air and transfer the rejected heat into a hot water system, thereby using waste heat to heat the hot water system. The system utilizes a heat exchanger not only for the purpose of transferring heat from a heating source to a fluid in the heat exchanger but also for the purpose of dissipating heat from the fluid in the heat exchanger to the surroundings of the heat exchanger, thereby allowing a heat pump to act both as an air heating and conditioning device.
Intelligent hot water heating system with stratified temperature-heating control storage tank
Hot water heating system comprising one or more water heaters with at least one water heating mechanism, and a heating-control storage tank generally configured to store heated water in a temperature stratified manner where hotter water tends to be separated from cold water. The heating-control storage tank can receive thermal energy or hot water from the water heater, send thermal energy or water to the water heater as its makeup water, and provide hot water directly to end users. The water heater may or may not be used to provide hot water to end users. The system is electronically controlled using a processor, various sensors, a recirculation pump, and electronically actuated valves. Depending on hot water needs and energy costs, the system controls water heating schedule and amount of hot water stored in the heating-control storage tank by changing system operation modes to minimize energy costs while providing reliable service.
A HEATING SYSTEM
A heating system (1) has a turbine (20) for burning a fuel to provide flue gas and electrical energy. A flue gas heat exchanger (25) receives the flue gas and uses it to heat water in three of stages. An air conduit (2) receives inlet air (3) and gases from secondary inlets (5, 26) from within the system to elevate the temperature in the main conduit (2) above ambient. An evaporator (8) recovering heat from the air flow of the main conduit, and provides energy via an evaporator coil to an air source heat pump ASHP (50). A water source heat pump WSHP (60) receives a water feed at an elevated temperature from the ASHP (50), and it cools the flue gas in a third heat exchanger stage (25(c)). Hence, WSW efficiency is high and it provides product water, as do the first and second stages of the flue gas heat exchanger (25)
Back-up generator and associated electric power systems
An electric power system is disclosed herein. The electric power system may manage and store electric power and provide uninterrupted electric power, derived from a plurality of electric power sources, to an electric load. The electric power system may contain an energy storage unit and generator assembly. The electric power system may connect to a power grid and renewable energy sources, and may charge the energy storage unit using the power grid, renewable energy sources, and/or generator assembly. The electric power system may be configured to determine load power usage and environmental factors to automatically and continuously modify a charging protocol to, for example, provide high efficiency and/or self-sufficiency from the power grid. The electric power system may operate entirely off-grid and may provide electricity to the load without interruption to power.
Compact thin-film heat recovery device for showers
A first conduit having a cylindrical upper entrance region with the axis of the cylindrical region oriented vertically, which accepts incoming downwardly flowing hot drain water, a central region of said first conduit below the said entrance region having a conical shape of increasing diameter, reaching a maximum diameter 2-7 times larger than the upper region, the shape then transitioning to a decreasing diameter area of a conical shape, the shape transitioning to a cylindrical lower region with a diameter similar to the upper region diameter; a second conduit for the flow of the shower cold water supply, with a diameter 10-40 times smaller than the maximum diameter of the drain water conduit, and a length 10-40 times longer than the vertical length of the drain water conduit, the second conduit tightly wrapped around the first conduit and in close thermal contact with the first conduit.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEAT RECOVERY FROM A LIQUID MEDIUM
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) and a method for recovering heat from a liquid medium (G), comprising: a heat exchanger (2) having at least two heat exchanger cells (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), which are thermally separate from each other, for receiving the liquid medium (G), wherein each of the heat exchanger cells (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) has a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of the liquid medium (G) located therein, at least one pipeline (4, 4.1) for conducting drinking water and/or heating water, which pipeline extends through at least one of the heat exchanger cells (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), a supply line (6), in which the liquid medium (G) is conducted, a number of controllable flaps (15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5), by means of which the liquid medium (G) can be selectively fed from the supply line (6) to the heat exchanger cells (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the liquid medium (G) in the supply line (6), wherein the flaps (15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5) are controlled in an open-loop and/or closed-loop manner such that the liquid medium (G) is supplied from the supply line (6) to the heat exchanger cell (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) that has a current temperature which is the least colder than the gray water (G) in the supply line (6).
Air conditioning apparatus
When a heating operation mode using a heating unit is specified and when a hot water supply request using the hot water in a hot water storage tank does not occur, an air conditioning apparatus transmits a first selection signal for selecting the heating unit to a three-way valve. When the heating operation mode is specified and when the hot water supply request occurs, the air conditioning apparatus transmits, to the three-way valve, a second selection signal for changing a destination of circulation of secondary refrigerant from the heating unit to a coil heat exchanger, and transmits an operation start signal to a refrigerant indoor unit.
Shower system
The shower system has a heat exchanger located in compartment vertically adjacent to the wall of the shower space and closed off by an openable or removable panel. The heat exchanger comprising a helically winding heat exchange conduit with successive windings around a vertical axis in said compartment above the floor of the shower space. A pump coupled to the shower drain pumps warm water to a warm water feed of the heat exchanger, from where it is sprayed on a top winding of the heat exchange conduit. Tap water is fed to the shower head successively via the heat exchange conduit and a heater and/or a mixing element for mixing water from the heat exchanger with water from a supply input for external hot water.
WATER ENERGY MATRIX CONTROL
A system and method for controlling microbiological growth in a water system and premise plumbing system which uses stabilized hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant and maintains water energy matrix control. Maintenance of stable hydrogen peroxide residual in the system in combination with active temperature monitoring enables better control of the water energy matrix and reduction of hot water temperature while maintaining microbiological control.
AN ENERGY SYSTEM FOR SUPPLY OF HOT WATER
An energy system includes a turbine flue heat exchanger feeding a storage tank arranged to deliver water on a high temperature (90° C.) line to supply circuits. A heat pump and storage tank are arranged to deliver lower temperature (45° C.) water on a low temperature line to the supply circuits. A number of the supply circuits are each arranged to receive high temperature water, receive low temperature water, and use these flows to deliver a process water supply at a desired high, low or intermediate temperature (65° C.). In some each supply circuits the blending is controlled by control of a low temperature line pump according to temperature of the process outlet. The low temperature tank is supplied by a heat pump the inlet of which is fed by a heat recovery heat exchanger which recovers waste heat from a plant, and so it is more efficient than if it received cold water. Electrical energy for the heat pump is at least partly supplied by the high temperature heater gas turbine. Overall, the system has excellent energy efficiency due to the manner in which waste heat is utilized, improved efficiency of a heat pump, and real time control of the high and low water lines.