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 solar thermal assisted water heating system includes a thermal collector comprising a plurality of fluid channels configured to collect heat from a surface of a photovoltaic module, a drain-back tank coupled to the thermal collector, a first pump coupled to the drain-back tank and configured to pump fluid from the drain-back tank to the thermal collector, a first heat exchanger configured to receive fluid from the thermal collector, a heat pump coupled to the first heat exchanger and configured to remove heat from the fluid and heat water with the removed heat, and a controller configured to control the first pump and heat pump. The system may include a photovoltaic module and a hot water tank. These systems improve the efficiency of water heating, and the drain-back tank may serve as a thermal battery that stores heat and provides the stored heat when environmental temperatures decrease.

Disclosed are systems and methods for automated hybrid pool heating unit configurations. An example method may include determining, by a processor, a first input parameter associated with an operation of a pool heating system comprising a first pool heating unit and a second pool heating unit, wherein the first pool heating unit is a first type of pool heating unit and the second pool heating unit is a second type of pool heating unit. The example method may also include sending, using the processor, based on receiving the first input parameter, a first signal to enable the first pool heating unit to heat a first pool. The example method may also include determining, by the processor, a second input parameter. The example method may also include sending, using the processor, based on receiving the second input parameter, a second signal to enable the second pool heating unit to heat the first pool.

Provided herein are various systems and methods (i.e., utilities) broadly directed to the generation of hot water using energy derived from renewable energy sources as an alternative to or in conjunction with another power source (e.g., fossil fuel-based energy from a utility provider, an underperforming solar/wind/wind system, etc.). In the various aspects, these utilities are directed to the retrofitting of existing water heaters with electrical heating elements that are connectable to a renewable source of electrical energy. While primarily discussed in relation to retrofitting existing water heaters, various aspects are applicable to OEM manufactured systems. Further, various control methods are provided that allow for enhancing the efficiency of hot water generation, net metering, and/or the generation of renewable energy credits.

A solar thermal assisted water heating system includes a thermal collector comprising a plurality of fluid channels configured to collect heat from a surface of a photovoltaic module, a drain-back tank coupled to the thermal collector, a first pump coupled to the drain-back tank and configured to pump fluid from the drain-back tank to the thermal collector, a first heat exchanger configured to receive fluid from the thermal collector, a heat pump coupled to the first heat exchanger and configured to remove heat from the fluid and heat water with the removed heat, and a controller configured to control the first pump and heat pump. The system may include a photovoltaic module and a hot water tank. These systems improve the efficiency of water heating, and the drain-back tank may serve as a thermal battery that stores heat and provides the stored heat when environmental temperatures decrease.

Provided is a method of signalling a command to a water heating appliance remote from a controllable water outlet fed from the appliance via a water supply installation, the method comprising: monitoring the water supply that feeds the controllable water outlet; detecting a sequence of changes in a property or state of the water supply consequent on operation of the controllable water outlet; correlating the sequence of changes with a stored pattern; detecting a match above a stored threshold; interpreting the match as a command. It is thus possible to manipulate a tap, or other controllable water outlet, to signal to a processor so that the temperature or flow rate of water supplied by the outlet can be increased. Thus a water supply system may have default flow and temperature levels designed for economy and low water usage, but a user can on demand override one or both of these limitations without the necessity of needing to go to the appliance to reset it. The water heating appliance is preferably an instantaneous water heating appliance. Also provided is a water supply installation including a water heating appliance, a controllable water outlet remote from the appliance, a water supply line arranged to feed the controllable water outlet with heated water from the appliance, and at least one sensor to sense a property or state of the water supply line, and a processor coupled to the at least one sensor; the processor being configured to detect a sequence of changes in a property or state of the water supply consequent on operation of the controllable water outlet; correlate the sequence of changes with a stored pattern; detect a match above a stored threshold; interpret the match as a command; and take an action in accordance with the command.

An adaptor for adapting a solar electric generator and solar heater to a thermal storage device, the adaptor including a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port and a pump configured for receiving a fluid through the third port and pulling the fluid through the third port from a thermal storage device to the fourth port, wherein the first port and the fourth port are configured to be supplied on a first surface and the second port and third port are configured to be supplied on a second surface.

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 including a thermal battery including an opening, a storage container configured to hold a first fluid therein, the opening configured to expose the first fluid to atmospheric pressure; and a fluid conductor disposed through the first fluid from an inlet point at the storage container to an outlet point at the storage container, the fluid conductor configured to receive a second fluid at a first temperature at the inlet point and to supply the second fluid at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

A heat pump hot-water supply system includes a heat pump hot-water supply device, an electricity storage device, and a control device. The control device determines an operating time zone of the heat pump hot-water supply device based on power conversion efficiency of the electricity storage device, coefficients of performance of the heat pump hot-water supply device of a current day and a next day, and an electricity rate structure of a commercial power system.