A water heating assembly, related kit, use and method make use of a temperature control near a point of use of water, so as to reduce a time response for hot water at this point of use are provided. The water heating assembly includes a tank for containing water, an inlet temperature sensor for sensing an inlet temperature of the water upstream of the tank, and a valve located upstream of the tank. The valve is actuated when the sensed inlet temperature reaches a given temperature set-point such that the water is bypassed from the tank and directly sent to the point of use. The water heating assembly is configured such that the point of use can be fed with water at the desired temperature in a reduced time, the water coming directly from the hot water source and/or the water heating assembly, thereby saving water, energy and time.

A temperature control system is used for controlling a temperature of a control target. The system includes: a first circulation circuit through which a first heat transfer medium circulates; a second circulation circuit that is independent of the first circulation circuit and through which a second heat transfer medium circulates; and a third circulation circuit that is independent of the first circulation circuit and the second circulation circuit and through which a third heat transfer medium circulates. The third heat transfer medium has a usable temperature range wider than usable temperature ranges of the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium.

An energy storage device includes a plurality of plates, each having a first and second surface, with at least one of the surfaces having a plurality of grooves formed therein. The device further includes inlet and outlet plenums for providing or receiving a heat transfer medium to or from the grooves. At least one of the first surface and the second surface having the plurality of grooves formed therein of a first plate is disposed in direct contact with the other one of the at least first surface and second surface of an adjacent second plate. Heat from the transfer medium is transferred to the plates in a charging mode of operation or transferred from the plates to the transfer medium in a discharging mode of operation when the heat transfer medium is passed along the grooves.

A thermal storage solution system is disclosed herein. The system includes an insulated container having a thermal storage medium, a heating element configured to heat the thermal storage medium, a heat receiving unit (e.g., thermophotovoltaic (TPV) heat engine, heat transfer fluid, an industrial process component) configured to convert heat into electric energy, and a mechanism configured to control a view factor between the thermal storage medium and the heat engine. In another embodiment, the system includes multiple thermal storage media as unit cells in a single enclosure or container with insulation between adjacent unit cells.

A heating system including a heat pump; a thermal battery loop including a thermal battery and a pump configured to circulate a working fluid through the thermal battery; a fluid conductor for receiving the first fluid at an inlet at a first temperature and delivering the first fluid at a second temperature; a first heat exchanger configured to thermally couple the heat pump and the fluid conductor at a first location of the fluid conductor; a second heat exchanger configured to thermally couple the thermal battery loop and the heat pump; and a third heat exchanger configured to thermally couple the thermal battery and the fluid conductor at a second location of the fluid conductor, wherein the second location of the fluid conductor is a location downstream from the first location of the fluid conductor between the inlet and the outlet of the fluid conductor.

A heat trap apparatus for a water heater is provided. The heat trap apparatus includes a tubular body having a length defined between a first end and a second end, a liner disposed within the tubular body, and a heat trap baffle assembly having a tubular housing coaxially disposed within the liner to inhibit convective fluid flow therethrough. The liner has a length greater than the length of the tubular body and has an outer surface engages with an inner surface of the tubular body using an interference fit. The liner includes a first end engaging with a peripheral edge of the first end of the tubular body and a second end extending beyond a peripheral edge of the second end of the tubular body for a desired length to connect with a conduit.

A solar concentrator comprising: a base; a framework, the framework being hingedly joined to the base such that the framework can be rotated relative to the base; and a plurality of mirrors arranged relative to a first axis of the framework, such that all of the mirrors are located on one side of a plane which contains the first axis, each mirror being fixed to the framework and each mirror being arranged to reflect light travelling parallel to the first axis towards a common focus which lies on the first axis.

A heat pump system and a cooling/heating system using same, the heat pump system being able to prevent the occurrence of a vortex in a process in which fluid flows into a heat storage tank, and to supply and maintain constant-temperature cooling and heating. The heat pump system according to the present invention includes: an indoor unit which functions as a condenser during heating and functions as an evaporator during cooling; an outdoor unit which functions as an evaporator during heating and functions as a condenser during cooling; a heating medium for heat exchange; and a heat storage tank in which the heating medium for cold/hot water is stored.

A heat exchanger is provided capable of exchanging heat received from a concentrated solar power plant via heat exchanging pipes and conducting the heat via patterns of flexible heat conducting cables into heat storing solids. The heat exchanger is further capable of exchanging heat stored by heat storing solids via the patterns of flexible heat conducting cables to heat exchanging pipes for use by a heat consumer. The heat exchanger has a charging and a discharging speed of a heat exchanger is about 50 kW/m.sup.3 or at least 50 kW/m.sup.3.

The disclosed technology includes systems and methods of managing temperature distributions of phase change material. The disclosed technology can include a system comprising a platform having a passageway therethrough. The platform can include a density that is less than a density of the phase change material when in a solid phase and greater than a density of the phase change material when in a liquid phase. The system can further include a whip rod disposed at least partially in the passageway of the platform.