A multi-functional retrofit cover plate assembly and method for an electric water heater to provide interconnection with an alternative energy system to heat water in a water holding tank of the electric water heater. The cover plate is adapted for replacement connection over a bottom access opening formed in an outer casing of the electric water heater which permits access to a bottom resistive heating element and electrical connections. The retrofit cover plate is shaped to define an internal dedicated compartment. A dual resistive heating element is provided for replacement of the bottom resistive heating element. An electronic switch unit is further provided and it has a power cut-off switch for connection to an alternative supply voltage. A temperature sensor is provided for mounting against an outer surface of the tank of the water heater to feed actual temperature signals of water temperature within the tank, in a lower region thereof, to the electronic switch unit which operates the power cut-off switch upon a predetermined temperature having been attained in the tank of the water heater. The retrofit cover plate and the assembly also make it possible to covert the water heater to a high temperature water heater or to adapt the electric water heater to a thermal fluid heat source.

Energy system (1) comprising an inverter (3) for converting an electrical direct voltage into an alternating voltage which can be used to supply electrical consumption units (4) of the energy system (1) and can be converted into heat by means of at least one heat pump (7) of the energy system (1), characterised in that in that the heat pump (7) can be controlled by means of a system control (10) of the energy system (1) via a control interface (12) in accordance with a heat pump configuration file (WPK) loaded specifically for the at least one heat pump (7) in a data memory (11) of the system control (10), wherein a communication of the system control (10) with a heat pump control (8) provided for the heat pump (7) is effected in accordance with at least one control type of the heat pump (7) indicated in the heat pump configuration file (WPK).

The present invention relates to an energy management system for a building, comprising at least one heat pump, at least one first thermal energy storage device for providing domestic hot water, at least one second thermal energy storage device for providing space heating, at least one renewable energy generation device, at least one first state of charge analyser for determining the state of charge of the at least one first thermal energy storage device, at least one second state of charge analyser for determining the state of charge of the at least one second thermal energy storage device, and a controller configured to control the at least one heat pump, the at least one first thermal energy storage device, the at least one second thermal energy storage device, and the at least one renewable energy generation device. The controller is configured to control, in dependence on at least the state of charge of the at least one first thermal energy storage device and/or the state of charge of the at least one second thermal energy storage device, whether one of and which of the at least one first thermal energy storage device and the at least one second thermal energy storage device is charged with energy provided by (a heat pump operation of) the at least one heat pump and/or energy provided by the at least one renewable energy generation device. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of using the energy management system.

A heating appliance of the electric radiator type, including a housing containing a DC operated electrical energy storage device charged by an electrical power supply source outside the appliance, and at least one heating body that can be powered by the electrical power supply source and/or by the electrical energy storage device. The housing also comprises at least one air inlet arranged in a lower part of the housing to allow air to enter the space internally defined by the housing, and at least one air outlet arranged in an upper part of the housing to allow the air to leave the space. The electrical energy storage device is arranged across the air flow that circulates, in the space, from the at least one air inlet to the at least one air outlet, in a location situated, as observed in the direction of circulation of the flow, between the at least one air inlet and the at least one heating body.

A multi-functional retrofit cover plate assembly and method for an electric water heater to provide interconnection with an alternative energy system to heat water in a water holding tank of the electric water heater. The cover plate is adapted for replacement connection over a bottom access opening formed in an outer casing of the electric water heater which permits access to a bottom resistive heating element and electrical connections. The retrofit cover plate is shaped to define an internal dedicated compartment. A dual resistive heating element is provided for replacement of the bottom resistive heating element. An electronic switch unit is further provided and it has a power cut-off switch for connection to an alternative supply voltage. A temperature sensor is provided for mounting against an outer surface of the tank of the water heater to feed actual temperature signals of water temperature within the tank, in a lower region thereof, to the electronic switch unit which operates the power cut-off switch upon a predetermined temperature having been attained in the tank of the water heater. The retrofit cover plate and the assembly also make it possible to covert the water heater to a high temperature water heater or to adapt the electric water heater to a thermal fluid heat source.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to preventing or lessening ice in remote water tanks. The remote water tanks can include a body at least partially defining a chamber that receives a liquid and having an open top portion that provides one or more animals access to the liquid. Further, a heat exchanger can be at least partially received within the chamber, and can receive a thermal transfer fluid that is circulated therethrough to maintain a temperature of the liquid in the chamber. Also, an external heat collector can be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to transfer solar or other heat to the thermal transfer fluid as the thermal transfer fluid is circulated therethrough.

A heating appliance of the electric radiator type, including a housing containing a DC operated electrical energy storage device charged by an electrical power supply source outside the appliance, and at least one heating body that can be powered by the electrical power supply source and/or by the electrical energy storage device. The housing also comprises at least one air inlet arranged in a lower part of the housing to allow air to enter the space internally defined by the housing, and at least one air outlet arranged in an upper part of the housing to allow the air to leave the space. The electrical energy storage device is arranged across the air flow that circulates, in the space, from the at least one air inlet to the at least one air outlet, in a location situated, as observed in the direction of circulation of the flow, between the at least one air inlet and the at least one heating body.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to preventing or lessening ice in remote water tanks. The remote water tanks can include a body at least partially defining a chamber that receives a liquid and having an open top portion that provides one or more animals access to the liquid. Further, a heat exchanger can be at least partially received within the chamber, and can receive a thermal transfer fluid that is circulated therethrough to maintain a temperature of the liquid in the chamber. Also, an external heat collector can be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to transfer solar or other heat to the thermal transfer fluid as the thermal transfer fluid is circulated therethrough.

An installation for producing electricity and heat, comprising a gas turbine unit, a photovoltaic unit and a solar thermal unit, and being configured for switching between: a first operation mode, in which the gas turbine unit produces said electricity and said heat, a second operation mode, in which the gas turbine unit produces only part of said electricity and the photovoltaic unit produces a rest of said electricity, and in which the solar thermal unit either produces a rest of said heat or provides heat to the gas turbine unit, and a third operation mode, in which said electricity and said heat are produced by the photovoltaic unit, the solar thermal unit, and optionally one or several steam turbines of the gas turbine unit.

A method of determining an operating configuration of a water heater that includes: a power cord connected to a receptacle; a housing; a battery disposed within the housing, and a water tank configured to hold a volume of water and having one or more heating elements. The method includes obtaining power availability data; and determining an operating configuration including one of: a full power configuration where the water tank operates at a maximum power greater than 120V input voltage based on power from both the receptacle and the battery or power solely from the battery, and a reduced power configuration where the water tank operates at a reduced power less than the maximum power, based on power solely from the receptacle or power solely from the battery.