Provided is an air conditioning apparatus. The air conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit through which a refrigerant circulates, a plurality of indoor units through which water circulates, the plurality of indoor units comprising a first indoor heat exchanger and a second indoor heat exchanger, and a heat-exchange device configured to connect the outdoor unit to the indoor unit, the heat exchange device including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, in which the refrigerant and water are heat exchanged with each other. The heat exchange device includes a first inflow tube extending from the first indoor heat exchanger toward the first heat exchanger to guide a flow of the water, a second inflow tube extending from the second indoor heat exchanger toward the second heat exchanger to guide the flow of the water, a first pump provided in the first inflow tube and a second pump provided in the second inflow tube. When a portion of the indoor unit performs a heating operation, and the other portion of the indoor unit performs a cooling operation, when a total capacity required for the indoor unit is equal to or less than a set capacity, the first pump or the second pump operates, and when the total capacity required for the indoor unit exceeds the set capacity, the first pump and the second pump operate.

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 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 method of processing electrical data and signals which comprises locating a site with a geothermal hot water resource which feeds hot water to an on-site heat engine that drives an on-site electricity generator which provides electrical power to an array of microprocessors, located in an enclosure structure, that processes data transmitted from a remote location at high speeds. The processed data is transmitted back to the remote locations at high speeds.

A method of processing electrical data and signals which comprises locating a site with a geothermal hot water resource which feeds hot water to an on-site heat engine that drives an on-site electricity generator which provides electrical power to an array of microprocessors, located in an enclosure structure, that processes data transmitted from a remote location at high speeds. The processed data is transmitted back to the remote locations at high speeds.

A heat pump system and a method for operating this system type includes a heat pump circuit for a heat pump circuit medium flowing through a primary side of a heat exchanger, and a heating circuit for a heating circuit medium flowing through the heat exchanger secondary side. A heat circuit pump is connected upstream of the exchanger secondary side when viewed in the heating circuit medium operating flow direction. When viewed in the heating circuit medium operating flow direction, a check valve connected downstream of the heating circuit pump and upstream of the secondary side closes when a heating circuit medium flows opposite the operating flow direction, and a degassing unit connected downstream of the secondary side when viewed in the operating flow direction prevents a flow of the heating circuit medium in the operating flow direction from a predefined gas amount in the heating circuit medium.

A heat pump system and a method for operating this system type includes a heat pump circuit for a heat pump circuit medium flowing through a primary side of a heat exchanger, and a heating circuit for a heating circuit medium flowing through the heat exchanger secondary side. A heat circuit pump is connected upstream of the exchanger secondary side when viewed in the heating circuit medium operating flow direction. When viewed in the heating circuit medium operating flow direction, a check valve connected downstream of the heating circuit pump and upstream of the secondary side closes when a heating circuit medium flows opposite the operating flow direction, and a degassing unit connected downstream of the secondary side when viewed in the operating flow direction prevents a flow of the heating circuit medium in the operating flow direction from a predefined gas amount in the heating circuit medium.

The invention provides a system for energy distribution that uses liquid carbon dioxide as a working fluid. Evaporation of the carbon dioxide provides cooling, and compression of the carbon dioxide gas back to the liquid state provides heat. The amount of heat transferred at both stages is sufficient to provide environmental heating and cooling. Waste thermal energy from a power plant, in the form of hot water, is fed into the system and used to drive the overall process. An underground thermal energy storage system is used to store energy flowing into the system that is in excess of the current demand.

A system for providing air conditioning to a living space and heating potable water. The system comprising a heat pump circuit comprising a compressor for circulating a refrigerant around the heat pump circuit, a first condenser, a second condenser and an evaporator. The evaporator being adapted to receive a first flow of air from an air inlet to transfer heat from the first flow of air to the refrigerant. The first condenser being adapted to receive a flow of water to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the water. The second condenser being adapted to receive a second flow of air to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the second flow of air. The first flow being provided from the evaporator to a living space by an air outlet.

A system for providing air conditioning to a living space and heating potable water. The system comprising a heat pump circuit comprising a compressor for circulating a refrigerant around the heat pump circuit, a first condenser, a second condenser and an evaporator. The evaporator being adapted to receive a first flow of air from an air inlet to transfer heat from the first flow of air to the refrigerant. The first condenser being adapted to receive a flow of water to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the water. The second condenser being adapted to receive a second flow of air to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the second flow of air. The first flow being provided from the evaporator to a living space by an air outlet.