A method of operating a water heater, the method including determining a predicted variation of a hot water consumption rate variable over a future time period and calculating a total required operating time of the water heater over that time period. The method further includes determining multiple possible operating profiles of the water heater that provide the total required operating time, and calculating a minimum hot water reserve for each profile. One of the profiles is selected based at least partially on that profile providing a minimum hot water reserve that is not less than a predetermined desired reserve capacity and the water heater is operated over the time period using that profile. The selected profile may be the profile that is calculated to have the lowest operational cost.

A method of operating a water heater, the method including determining a predicted variation of a hot water consumption rate variable over a future time period and calculating a total required operating time of the water heater over that time period. The method further includes determining multiple possible operating profiles of the water heater that provide the total required operating time, and calculating a minimum hot water reserve for each profile. One of the profiles is selected based at least partially on that profile providing a minimum hot water reserve that is not less than a predetermined desired reserve capacity and the water heater is operated over the time period using that profile. The selected profile may be the profile that is calculated to have the lowest operational cost.

A hot water supply apparatus includes: a first channel configured to send water in a medium-temperature layer (M) to a heating section; and a second channel configured to return water heated by the heating section to a tank. The second channel has an outflow port at a lower position than an inflow port of the first channel.

The invention provides a water tank heating method and unit, an electronic device and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. Before the SOFC system is started, ice in a water tank has been heated up, so after the SOFC system is started, the heating time of the heated ice, i.e., the thawing time of the water tank, will be shortened. Further, in the ice heating process, a pre-set needed SOFC thawing time determined according to current stack outlet temperature is used as a heating control parameter. As the stack outlet temperature is a key factor influencing the starting time of the SOFC system, the heating control will be more accurate if the pre-set needed SOFC thawing time corresponding to the stack outlet temperature is used as a heating control parameter.

The invention provides a water tank heating method and unit, an electronic device and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. Before the SOFC system is started, ice in a water tank has been heated up, so after the SOFC system is started, the heating time of the heated ice, i.e., the thawing time of the water tank, will be shortened. Further, in the ice heating process, a pre-set needed SOFC thawing time determined according to current stack outlet temperature is used as a heating control parameter. As the stack outlet temperature is a key factor influencing the starting time of the SOFC system, the heating control will be more accurate if the pre-set needed SOFC thawing time corresponding to the stack outlet temperature is used as a heating control parameter.

Disclosed are a method for controlling a heating water heater, a heating water heater, and a computer-readable storage medium. The method includes: controlling the heating outlet to be closed and the heat supply outlet to be opened after receiving a bath water signal; obtaining a water temperature of a bath outlet; obtaining a duration that the water temperature at the bath outlet is within a preset water temperature range; controlling an opening degree of the heat supply outlet to decrease and an opening degree of the heating outlet to increase when the duration is greater than or equal to a first preset duration, and a heat load of the heating water heater is less than a rated load; and controlling the heat load of the heating water heater to increase, and maintaining the water temperature at the bath outlet within the preset water temperature range.

A heat pump water heater and systems and methods for its control. The systems are configured to heat water within a water storage tank of a heat pump water heater wherein a controller within the system is operatively connected to a plurality of heat sources including at least one electric heating element and a heat pump and sensors in order to selectively energize one of the plurality of heat sources. The controller is configure to process data representative of the temperature of water within the tank near the top of the water storage tank, and rate of water flowing out of the water storage tank, in order to automatically selectively energize the heat sources. The selection of heat sources by the controller is determined by a mode of operation selected by the user and the data processed by the controller in view of the selected mode of operation.

A solar water heating pump system. A heat pump and a heat exchanger, connected to the heat pump, and creating heat that exchanges heat from the heat pump to change a temperature in a load, which is usually heated or cooled water. There is also a connection to grid power. A controller controls the heat pump and heat exchanger based on the grid power and detection of an amount of solar power that is available.

A solar water heating pump system. A heat pump and a heat exchanger, connected to the heat pump, and creating heat that exchanges heat from the heat pump to change a temperature in a load, which is usually heated or cooled water. There is also a connection to grid power. A controller controls the heat pump and heat exchanger based on the grid power and detection of an amount of solar power that is available.

A water preconditioner system comprising a user interface for manually or automatically receiving inputs from a user, a mixing assembly including a plurality of control valves coupled to hot and cold water supply lines, and a controller in communication with the plurality of control valves and the user interface for controlling the operation of the system. The controller is configured to operate in a plurality of modes to precondition the water to one of a desired preset water dispensing temperature or a target temperature different from the desired preset water dispensing temperature.