A heated and chilled water dispenser comprising: a housing; an input port fast with the housing for connection to a mains pressure water supply; at least one chilled water container arranged to receive water from the input port; a water chilling assembly arranged to cool said at least one chilled water container; at least one hot water tank including a heating element and a water receiving arrangement to receive water from the input port, the water receiving arrangement including an inlet valve responsive to water level; an inlet plenum associated with the inlet valve, the plenum being coupled with the input port to receive water, the plenum further comprising a fill pipe coupled to the hot water tank for supplying water to the hot water tank; a thermostat coupled to said at least one hot water tank for controlling the heating element and thus temperature of water within the hot water tank; a two way outlet tap configured for dispensing hot water from the hot water supply or chilled water from the chilled water container in accordance with a user's selection; a liquid delivery device coupled to said at least one hot water tank for supplying hot water from the hot water tank, said device being arranged to be actuated by the outlet tap.

A portable cooking device operable by electricity or by a rechargeable lithium Ion battery for use when electricity is or is not readily available.

Provided is an RPM control method for an inducer for a gas furnace that induces a flow of combustion gas produced in a burner from a heat exchanger to an exhaust pipe. The RPM control method for an inducer for a gas furnace includes: (a) initiating a heating operation for the gas furnace; (b) determining whether the operation time during which the heating operation is performed is equal to or longer than a first time period; (c) if it is determined that the operation time is equal to or longer than the first time period, detecting whether a pressure switch is turned OFF; and (d) if the pressure switch is detected as turned OFF, increasing the RPM of the inducer by a first value.

A system and approach for developing a periodic water usage profile and demand for controlling a water heater. A mode may be selected for demand for a certain amount of water of a particular temperature range to be available for use from the water heater. Data on hot water usage may be collected and the usage profile and demand may be calculated from the data. The water heater may be programmed to operate in a certain fashion based on the usage profile and demand. A control knob may be on the water heater control to select a particular demand. Control of the water heater may be operated from a remote device connected in a wireless or wired fashion. An optimization program may be implemented in the control of the water heater for achieving one or more beneficial goals related to water heater performance and hot water production.

A biomass heating system for firing fuel in the form of pellets and/or wood chips is disclosed, comprising: a boiler with a combustion device; a heat exchanger with an inlet and an outlet; wherein the combustion device comprises a combustion chamber with a primary combustion zone and with a secondary combustion zone provided downstream thereof; the combustion device having a rotating grate on which the fuel can be burned; the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber being fluidically connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger and the primary combustion zone being laterally enclosed by a plurality of combustion chamber bricks.

A method of defrosting a heat pump device including a water tank, a heat exchanger, an electrical heating element, an evaporator, a fan for the evaporator, and a control unit. In a first operating mode, the heat pump device is controlled to heat water inside the water tank. In a second operating mode, the electrical heating element is manually activated to additionally heat the water inside the water tank. In a third operating mode, the electrical heating element is automatically activating to heat the water in the storage tank if: the power supplied by the heat pump device to heat the water inside the water tank is not sufficient; if a time limit after activation of a deicing operation has lapsed; and/or if the number of times the deicing operation has been activated during a predetermined time interval exceeds a threshold value.

In an electric water heater having adjustable set point and differential temperatures, upper and lower heating elements, and associated temperature sensors respectively operative to sense upper and lower tank water temperatures, a specially designed control system is provided for controlling the heating elements. The control system is operative to prevent dry firing of the heating elements by measuring temperatures over time with the temperature sensors.

Disclosed are system 100 and method of energy efficient hot and cold water management. The system 100 comprises: a control unit 101 for dynamically controlling the functioning of the system 100; at least a water storage tank 102 with at least one of a water level sensor, at least a heating element 1021, at least a temperature sensor 1022 or any combination thereof; at least an auxiliary water storage tank 103 with at least one of a water level sensor, at least a temperature sensor 1032; at least a water mixer unit 105 having at least a temperature sensor 1051; a user interface unit 1012 for controlling and monitoring different parameters including temperature, water level, opening and closing of valves 108 and 109; and a power supply with power backup unit 104 for providing basic power for proper functioning of the system 100.

A closed-loop temperature controller employing at least two sensors: a control temperature sensor and a safety sensor at the heat-transfer element. The heat-generating element is separated from the controlled mass/volume by a transport delay so that the mass or volume that is being heated or cooled is located in a vessel which is located remotely from the heat-transfer unit. Thermally conducting fluid flows through a conduit that connects the heat-transfer unit to the vessel. Upon fluid flow interruption or control sensor removal, the temperature controller quickly detects thermal runaway before the safety sensor has reached the critical temperature. In heated systems, the temperature controller will therefore minimize direct damage and/or overshoot damage caused by excessive heat. It will also maintain the heater's output at an elevated, but non-damaging level to enable a fast recovery to the original setpoint temperature after the nonlinearity subsides.

The disclosed technology includes an on-demand water heater which uses an electric heat source to heat the water. The on-demand water heater can have a low fluid capacity heating chamber which has an inlet and an outlet, an electric heat source for heating the water, and a controller to control the electric heat source and maintain the temperature of the water at a predetermined temperature setting. The on-demand water heater can be powered by a direct current power source. The on-demand water heater can also utilize a solar thermal system to provide additional heat to the water.