An apparatus for heating water has a tank for storing water and an air conditioning system that defines a refrigerant flow path through which refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow path passes through a heat exchanger so that refrigerant heat is contributed to the tank. The heat exchanger houses a phase change material. A controller controls operation of the water heating apparatus.

Thermal energy systems for managing, distribution and recovery of thermal energy. A single-pipe loop circulating a two-phase refrigerant is provided. The single-pipe loop is spread through the entire system and interconnects a plurality of local heat exchange stations, each having different thermal energy loads. A central circulation mechanism (CCM) is also provided for circulating the refrigerant for distribution of thermal energy within the system.

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.

The present invention provides stretchable laminates with a flat appearance on the visible surface. The laminates comprise a textile layer, a functional layer, and a plurality of elastic fibers. The plurality of elastic fibers are in a substantially parallel arrangement and the internal distance between adjacent fibers does not exceed the maximum fiber spacing, which depends on laminate thickness in a stretched state. Also provided are garments and footwear comprising the stretchable laminates and methods of producing the stretchable laminates.

A refrigeration system includes at least one refrigeration circuit 2. The refrigeration circuit 2 includes a compressor 10, a first heat rejecting heat exchanger 6, a second heat rejecting heat exchanger 8, an expansion valve 12 and a heat absorbing heat exchanger 4. The refrigeration circuit 2 further includes a heat recovery control valve 14 for controlling flow of the compressed refrigerant fluid between the first heat rejecting heat exchanger and the second heat rejecting heat exchanger. The first heat rejecting heat exchanger 6 is for receiving compressed refrigerant fluid from the compressor 10 and exchanging heat between the compressed refrigerant fluid and a second fluid to increase the temperature of the second fluid. The second heat rejecting heat exchanger 8 is for receiving the compressed refrigerant fluid and exchanging heat with ambient air to cool the compressed refrigerant fluid.

The present invention provides stretchable laminates with a flat appearance on the visible surface. The laminates comprise a textile layer, a functional layer, and a plurality of elastic fibers. The plurality of elastic fibers are in a substantially parallel arrangement and the internal distance between adjacent fibers does not exceed the maximum fiber spacing, which depends on laminate thickness in a stretched state. Also provided are garments and footwear comprising the stretchable laminates and methods of producing the stretchable laminates.

The present invention relates to an improved heating and cooling system for homes, businesses, and more. The system is used for removing heat and humidity from an enclosed area while enabling hot air to heat water present in a hot water tank for various uses, like drying clothes and more. The system has a cabinet including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. A water jacket for the condenser and the evaporator are also disposed in the cabinet. The system allows users to use the hot air and the cold air produced by the system for cooling one place and keeping another place hot simultaneously. The system is easy to install and repair and is cost-effective.

A method of cooling air includes a liquid coolant subsystem including a cool water source configured to hold water, an air cooling subsystem including an air chamber that contains air therein, an air conditioning apparatus including a heat exchanger of a liquid-to-air type having a heat sink in thermal communication, a fan assembly configured to move air along the heat sink of the heat exchanger, a thermostat, a temperature sensor, and a control circuit in electronic communication with the temperature sensor and the thermostat, a plumbing subsystem including an inlet piping component in fluid communication with heat exchanger, an outlet piping component in fluid communication with the exchanger, and a solenoid valve. The control circuit may be configured to activate the fan assembly and to open the solenoid valve, allowing for the transfer heat to water from the air moved by the fan assembly.

A common vent application and an independent fan coil are disclosed for improved heating, cooling and water making in a building. The independent fan coil obviates the common boilers and chillers in addition to all the common heating and cooling distribution piping used in known systems. Instead, the fan coils contain all the hydronic heating components and all the components needed to provide AC without the use of common boilers and chilled water systems. The fan coils utilize common vent shaft ducting to exhaust the products of combustion generated for the independent tankless water heater. In addition, the common vent shaft may utilize a negative static pressure environment to exhaust the heat of rejection from the AC portion of the fan coil unit.

A load unit includes a water circuit chamber configured to accommodate at least a part of a water circuit configured to allow water to flow therethrough, a fan, an air inlet formed at a height positioned different from that of the air inlet and configured to suck indoor air therethrough, an air outlet configured to blow indoors the air sucked through the air inlet, and an air passage formed between the air inlet and the air outlet so as to be isolated from the water circuit chamber. A load-side heat exchanger is provided in the air passage.