A tank-type water heater includes a storage tank and a heating circuit outside of the tank. The heating circuit includes at least one heat engine and at least one pump for circulating water from the bottom of the tank through the heat engine and back to the top of the tank. A stratifier introduces the heated water from the heating circuit into the top of the tank in a diffuse manner to promote stratification of hot water in the tank.

An improved heat engine employing a dual-component working fluid and configured to generate internal heat from one component of the working fluid that heats the other component through the physical contact between them such that together with the addition of external heat, the engine advantageously yields enhanced work extraction efficiency through separate, parallel expansion of each of the working fluids.

A dual-cycle heat engine employing a first cycling working fluid and a second cycling working fluid whose cycles overlap when fused into a combined working stream so as to preserve compression heat generated during compression of the first working fluid thereby yielding enhanced work extraction when complying with additional thermodynamic requirements.

An improved heat engine employing a dual-component working fluid and configured to generate internal heat from one component of the working fluid that heats the other component through the physical contact between them such that together with the addition of external heat, the engine advantageously yields enhanced work extraction efficiency through separate, parallel expansion of each of the working fluids.

A dual-cycle heat engine employing a first cycling working fluid and a second cycling working fluid whose cycles overlap when fused into a combined working stream so as to preserve compression heat generated during compression of the first working fluid thereby yielding enhanced work extraction when complying with additional thermodynamic requirements.

A water heater including a thermal break in the form of an air pocket that moves into an air trap segment of the cold water pipe to reduce heat loss during standby. The air pocket is pushed back into the tank by incoming cold water during a hot water and reforms at the top of the tank. During standby, the air pocket moves into the air trap via an anti-siphon hole communicating with the cold water inlet. The anti-siphon hole can be, for example, in the top of the dip tube.

A method for preheating untreated water in a power plant having a water/steam circuit, the power plant has a steam producer, a steam turbine, and steam lines, of which at least some connect the steam producer to the steam turbine, wherein untreated water for producing deionized water is heated by means of wastewater from the water/steam circuit and the wastewater is added to the untreated water in order to heat the untreated water. A power plant is adapted for preheating untreated water by the method.

A water heating system having a tank and one or more heat sources for heating water is provided. The water heating system includes a water outlet for allowing egress of water from the tank and a dip tube for allowing ingress of water into the tank. The dip tube includes a first end for coupling with a water source and a second end disposed proximate a base of the tank for discharging water into the tank through an array of holes. Each of the holes is defined in a side wall of the dip tube and laterally discharges water with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second end of the dip tube.

A water heater dip tube includes an elongated body having an inlet end and an outlet end. An inner volume is arranged within the elongated body. An anti-siphon orifice is arranged along the elongated body proximate the inlet end. The anti-siphon orifice extends through a wall of the elongated body. The dip tube further includes an elastomeric membrane secured to the elongated body. The elastomeric membrane is arranged in the vicinity of the anti-siphon orifice. The elastomeric membrane is operable to block fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is greater than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice, and to allow fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is less than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice.