6677results about "Fluid heaters" patented technology

An energy saving control for appliances via an intelligent thermostat is provided. This intelligent thermostat provides programmatic control over the HVAC system, and provides coordinated control over the appliances. This control over the appliances is accomplished via a communications network between the intelligent thermostat and the appliances. The appliances include occupancy sensors and transmit usage and occupancy information to the intelligent thermostat. The intelligent thermostat processes this information to determine the occupancy of the dwelling. The thermostat controls the HVAC system and the appliances according to the determined occupancy of the dwelling.

A thermostat is operable from battery, common-wire (“C-wire”), or furnace relay power. The thermostat includes a power source selector, such as a jumper wire, that is set when the thermostat is installed in a heating system. In a gas millivolt heating system, the thermostat operates off of battery power. In heating systems having a C-wire, a diode bridge converter converts alternating-current voltage to direct-current voltage to provide operating power to the thermostat. In heating systems without a C-wire and having sufficient furnace relay current, a triac converter in series with the furnace relay provides voltage spikes to the diode bridge converter to provide operating power to the thermostat when the furnace is on, and the diode bridge converts AC to DC voltage when the furnace is not on. The thermostat can also be used in cooling systems and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. Thus, the thermostat can be used in a wide variety of applications.

A fluid communication system for providing coolant to and exhausting coolant from a cooling unit includes flexible tubing and a plurality of support members. Each support member is configured to be secured to a support structure and to be releasably secured to the flexible tubing. Each support member includes a first part and a mating second part, with the first and second parts being configured to be secured to one another with the flexible tubing disposed in between. A method of installing a fluid communication system of a cooling system is further disclosed.

A power distribution/generation system is disclosed for supplying electrical power to a number of sites (32, 33, 34), one or more of which has a generator (53, 1) such as a Stirling engine (1) which is capable of generating electrical power. The generators (53, 1) are linked together on a local network that is connectable to an external power grid (31). A controller (35) can hold the distribution of power so that a site is supplied with electrical power from the local network if its power demand exceeds the power generated by the generators in that network. However, if the total power demand of all the sites in the network exceeds the total power available from the generators in that network, then the controller (35) causes power to be drawn from the grid (31) instead.

A cooking apparatus includes a cooking vessel and a lid for covering the cooking vessel. The cooking apparatus also may include an exhaust tube for bleeding off pressure within the cooking vessel, in which a portion of the exhaust tube is positioned above the lid when said lid covers said cooking vessel. In another embodiment, the cooking apparatus includes a first O-ring gaskets for forming a first seal between the cooking vessel and the lid, and a second O-ring gasket for forming a second seal between the cooking vessel and the lid. A method for reducing pressure includes the steps of providing a vessel and covering the vessel with a lid. The method also includes the steps of positioning a portion of an exhaust tube above the lid when the lid covers the vessel and bleeding off at least a portion of the pressure inside the vessel through the exhaust tube.

A control system for an electric water heater having an upper heating element and a lower heating element is disclosed. The control system includes a control module that controls operation of the electric water heater by selectively toggling the upper and lower heating elements between an ON state and an OFF state and a consumer interface module that allows a consumer to input a set point temperature and select an energy savings mode for the electric water heater. The control module regularly monitors hot water usage and adjusts the set point temperature by a predetermined setback amount until a capacity of the water heater matches consumer usage.

Control apparatus for an environmental control system comprises input circuitry receiving environmental information and output circuitry for controlling an HVAC system. Processing circuitry in the controller configures the output circuitry based at least in part on the signals received on the input circuitry. Information about the status of the HVAC system may be transferred to system administrators using a wireless link.

A method and controller for controlling the operation of a zoned climate control system including a primary heat source, a secondary heat source, a cooling unit, and a humidifier unit. The controller is configured to receive both heating demand signals and cooling demand signals from a plurality of zone thermostats positioned throughout the residence. Upon receiving a heating demand signal, the controller operates the primary heat source to provide heat to the zone issuing the heating demand signal. The controller determines whether the primary heat source satisfies the heating demand signal within a maximum heating period. If the heating demand is not satisfied within this period, the controller activates the secondary heat source to supplement the heat being supplied by the primary heat source.

A water heater control for an electric water heater operates according to at least one fixed hardware and/or software temperature limit and a variable software temperature limit. The control monitors a temperature of water in a tank of the electric water heater to determine if the temperature exceeds the fixed hardware and/or software temperature limit. If the temperature exceeds the fixed temperature limit, the control turns off one or more heating elements of the electric water heater. The variable software temperature limit is indicative of a desired user temperature and an offset temperature. If the temperature exceeds the variable software temperature limit, the control turns off the one or more heating elements.

This invention provides a system and method for cogeneration of electric power and building heat that efficiently interfaces a liquid-cooled electric power generator with a multi-zone forced hot water (hydronic) space heating system. The system and method utilizes an electric generator with an electric output capacity (kW) that is near the time-averaged electric power consumption rate for the building and with a heat generation capacity that is useful for meeting building heating needs. This generator is operated as the priority source of heat for the building, but normally only when there is a demand for heat in building, with the intent of running the generator for long periods of time and generating a total amount of electric energy (kWhs) that is significant in comparison to the total electric energy consumption of the building over time. The actual onsite time-variable power demand (kW) is met by a combination of the cogenerated electric power produced on site and quantities of electric power from the public electric power grid or another external power source. Hence, useful electric power is generated on site as a by-product of the required generation of heat for space or water heating. The generator is run at a speed/operating condition that is appropriate to maintaining a long operational life.

In a low-pass filter which is preferably used as a loop filter in a PLL or DLL, filter characteristics which are the same as those of a conventional low-pass filter are realized without causing collateral problems, such as an increase in the circuit area, the circuit complexity, or the resistance value, which may be caused due to size reduction of a capacitive element in the conventional low-pass filter. Thus, in a loop filter including a capacitive element and a resistive element which are connected in series, the first input terminal is provided at the side including the resistive element, and the second input terminal is provided at a connection point of the capacitive element and the resistive element. The first input terminal is supplied with the first electric current. On the other hand, the second electric current, which is a part of the first electric current supplied to the first input terminal, is extracted from the second input terminal, so that the electric current flowing into the capacitive element is smaller than the electric current flowing through the resistive element.

The invention provides an electric water heater with an ECO (ecology, conservation and optimization) function mode and a controlling method thereof. The electric water heater comprises an operation interface having an ECO function key. The controlling method includes the steps of controlling the electric water heater to enter the ECO function mode after the ECO function key is triggered; acquiring history of water habits of a user; acquiring currently provided hot water quantity of the electric water heater; calculating pre-heating time according to the history of water habits and the currently provided hot water quantity, and subjecting the electric water heater to heating when the pre-heating time is out. Once the ECO function key is triggered, the energy-saving mode runs. The electric water heater is simple and convenient and capable of heating in advance, meeting bath requirements of the user in using water and reducing energy waste caused by excess heating. The electric water heater is controlled to be free of heating when the user does not use water, thus energy is greatly saved.

A waste heat recovery system, method and device executes a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid in a working fluid circuit which has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. Components of the system in the working fluid circuit include a waste heat exchanger in thermal communication with a waste heat source also connected to the working fluid circuit, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the waste heat source to the working fluid in the working fluid circuit, an expander located between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, the expander operative to convert a pressure/enthalpy drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy, a recuperator in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit, a cooler in thermal communication with the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit operative to control temperature of the working fluid in the low side of the working fluid circuit, a pump in the working fluid circuit and connected to the low pressure side and to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to move the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and a mass management system connected to the working fluid circuit, the mass management system, method and device having a working fluid vessel connected to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to passively control an amount of working fluid mass in the working fluid circuit.

A textile heating device having a plurality of electrically conductive heating strands in contact with each other at a plurality of points of contact by way of respective contact surfaces is provided. The electrically conductive textile includes at least two strands which are fixed relative to each other at at least one point of contact such that a contact area at the fixed at least one point of contact between the contact surfaces remains essentially constant during mechanical action of the textile.

A modular heat exchange system for use in a central heat exchange installation in buildings, including at least one heat exchange element equipped for exchanging heat between environmental air and a fluid which is conducted through the heat exchange element. The heat exchange element has a predetermined first shape with opposite lateral sides. At least one non-heat-exchange add-on element, equipped for adding a given additional functionality to the system, has a predetermined second shape with a complementary lateral side to one of the opposite lateral sides of the heat exchange element.

A radiant heating for heating the building material in a laser sintering device and a laser sintering device having such a radiant heating are described. The radiant heating has a sheet-like heat radiating element (113, 213, 313), which is characterized in that it is made of a material, that has a low thermal inertia with a thermal diffusivity of preferably more than 1.5·10⁻⁴ m²/s and preferably has a thickness of 2 mm or less.

The invention provides a draught fan control method of gas equipment, comprising the following steps of: A. determining the current working state of the gas equipment; B. controlling the rotation speed of a draught fan according to the current working state of the gas equipment: B1. judging that the inside combustion air quantity of the gas equipment in combusting is overlarge in the current working state, reducing the rotation speed of the draught fan; B2. judging that the gas equipment is in a normal combusting working state or passable combusting working state, maintaining the current rotation speed of the draught fan; B3. judging that the gas equipment is in a possible incomplete combusting working state, increasing the rotation speed of the draught fan; and B4. judging that the gas equipment is in an exhaust blockage working state, stopping supplying gas for the gas equipment. The invention also provides a corresponding control device. By using the method and the device provided by the invention, the rotation speed of the draught fan is regulated when the external air pressure is changed, so that singly closing the gas is avoided and the convenience for users is increased.

The invention provides a control method and a control system, which can continuously detect temperature change in liquid heating equipment and calculate out temperature increasing rate. The temperature increasing rate is used for comparing with a set threshold value to judge whether parching happens. In order to avoid mistaken errors caused by factors of water level fluctuation and the like, the control method and the control system can collect data continuously for three times to judge whether parching happens. Simultaneously, light-emitting diode display lamps are utilized to give fault alarm to users to remind users of examining a water heater and a pipeline. The control method and the control system can judge whether parching happens according to speed of temperature rise in the liquid heating equipment to protect electrical heating, prolong service life of equipment, provide safety guarantee for using the liquid heating equipment and prevent safety accidents from happening.

A control system is provided for a modulated heating system including a plurality of modulating water heaters, which may be modulating boilers. A deadband control scheme provides for reduced cycling of the modulating heater when total system heat demand falls between the maximum output of one heater and the sum of the maximum output of that one point and the minimum firing point of the next subsequent heater.

One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus useful to control temperature of a device that includes: (a) a heat transfer apparatus; (b) a combined path to the heat transfer apparatus; (c) a first path maintained at a first temperature and connected to the combined path; (d) a second path maintained at a second temperature and connected to the combined path; (e) a third path connected to the combined path; (f) a pump assembly operable to circulate thermal transfer fluid: (i) from the heat transfer apparatus, (ii) through one or more of the first, second and third paths, (iii) from the one or more of the first, second and third paths, through the combined path, and (iv) from the combined path, to and through the heat transfer apparatus; and (g) a valve assembly operable to cause predetermined amounts of thermal transfer fluid to flow into one or more of the first, second, and third paths, thereby controlling the temperature.

The invention discloses a dual heat-source heat-pump hot water device with an extremely simple refrigerating loop. The device is characterized by mainly comprising a compressor, a hot water condenser, a wind heat exchanger, a water heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a bidirectional throttle and the like, wherein a high pressure inlet of the four-way valve is connected with the outlet of the hot water condenser, and the other three ports thereof are connected with air inlets of the wind heat exchanger, the water heat exchanger and the compressor respectively; other ports of the wind heat exchanger and the water heat exchanger are connected with the bidirectional throttle; the exhaust port of the compressor is connected with the inlet of the hot water condenser, and is connected with high pressure air inlet of an electromagnetic pilot valve of the four-way valve; four functions of manufacturing hot water by utilizing water source or air energy and providing air-conditioning cool water by utilizing air-cooling or heating water can be realized by only switching the four-way valve, defrosting can be performed completely and quickly; and a water pre-heater is added to the device to reclaim the heat of waste hot water. The heat pump has the advantages of dual heat sources compensation and wide application range, has multiple functions, extremely simple structure, extremely convenient switching and over 5 of annual comprehensive energy efficiency ratio, and has great popularization value.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling a cooling ventilation fan after the thermostat call for cooling has ended by providing a variable fan-off delay time based on cooling system parameters including but not limited to the cooling system operating time, duration of the thermostat call for cooling, relative humidity, temperature split, thermostat temperature rate of change, or thermostat temperature reaching a minimum inflection point or crossing a fixed or variable thermostat differential or differential offset. Apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling a heating ventilation fan after the thermostat call for heating has ended by providing a variable fan-off delay time based on heating system parameters including but not limited to the heating system operating time, duration of the thermostat call for heating, temperature rise, thermostat temperature rate of change, or thermostat temperature reaching a maximum inflection point or crossing a fixed or variable thermostat differential or differential offset.

Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling photovoltaic cell temperature by removing excess thermal energy from photovoltaic cells in a photovoltaic module and using the excess thermal energy for heating or to drive a heating and/or cooling apparatus. In one instance, the heating and/or cooling apparatus is an absorption chiller. A generator of the absorption chiller can either be thermally connected to the photovoltaic module or can be heated by transferring the thermal energy from the photovoltaic module to the absorption chiller via a heating fluid such as water.

The invention provides a heat accumulating type electric heating optimizing operation control method improving wind power absorption for solving the problems that a wind power heat supply operation manner is simple in our country, and the discarded wind power quantity cannot be flexibly and reasonably matched. The heat accumulating type electric heating optimizing operation control method improving wind power absorption is characterized by comprising the steps of the mechanism of improving wind power absorption through heat accumulating type electric heating, the evaluation index acquisition, operation of a heat accumulating type electric boiler, control analysis of the heat accumulating type electric boiler and the like. According to the operation control method, the requirement for loads of a user can be met, and more discarded wind power quantity can be absorbed; and the heat accumulating type electric heating optimizing operation control method has the advantages of being scientific and reasonable, high in adaptability, capable of fully utilizing energy more effectively, good in effect and the like.

A heating or cooling system, such as an HVAC system, of variable output has a number of control elements and may include a variable speed compressor, a variable speed combustion (induced or forced draft) blower motor; a variable speed circulator blower motor; a variable output gas valve or gas/air premix unit; and a controller specifically developed for variable output applications. The system may utilize a pressure sensor to determine the actual flow of combustion airflow in response to actual space conditions, vary the speed of the inducer blower, and subsequently vary the gas valve output to supply the correct amount of gas to the burner system. A temperature sensor may be located in the discharge air stream of the conditioned air to provide an input signal for the circulator blower.

The invention discloses a controlling method of an air-source water heater. The control of the air-source water heater is realized based on a timing water consumption mode, and a timing switch is utilized to automatically regulate the opening/stopping time of the water heater according to the outdoor environmental temperature daily range; in use, a user directly sets the time and the temperature of water consumption, and the air-source water heater selects to start the water heater for heating at the higher outdoor environmental temperature. The invention has the following advantages that: firstly, the time and the temperature of the water consumption are directly set, which is more human-friendly and is convenient for the user to operate and use; secondly, the air-source water heater selects to work at the higher outdoor environmental temperature by utilizing the outdoor environmental temperature daily range so as to improve the heating effect of the air-source water heater as large as possible and realize the energy saving operation of the air-source water heater.

The invention provides a constant temperature control method of a gas water heater. The method comprises the following steps that the inlet water temperature and the inlet water flow of the gas water heater are detected; the thermal load needed for heating inlet water to a set temperature from the inlet water temperature of the gas water heater is calculated according to the inlet water temperature, the inlet water flow and the set temperature; the opening degree of a gas valve of the gas water heater is adjusted according to the thermal load so that the outlet water temperature of the gas water heater can be consistent with the set temperature. The constant temperature control method solves the problems that an existing gas water heater is large in starting overshoot and long in constant temperature time, and improves the constant temperature performance of the gas water heater. The invention further provides a constant temperature control device of the gas water heater and the gas water heater.

A labyrinth channel for reducing pressure and/or flow rate in a liquid flowing in the channel, the labyrinth channel having a bottom surface and first and second opposing walls and comprising: a first array of spaced apart first baffle teeth that have non-parallel upstream and downstream faces and extend from the first wall towards the second wall to terminate in an end; and a second array of spaced apart second baffle teeth that have non-parallel upstream and downstream faces and extend from the second wall towards the first wall to terminate in an end; wherein baffle teeth in different arrays have a substantially same shape and upstream faces of closest baffle teeth in different arrays are different and/or downstream faces of closest baffle teeth in different arrays are different.

The invention provides an intelligent water heater controlling method and device. The intelligent water heater controlling method comprises the following steps: determining a target user who needs to use an intelligent water heater; determining expected water consumption information of the target user; and controlling the intelligent water heater to start according to the expected water consumption information. According to the intelligent water heater controlling method disclosed by the invention, through the intelligent water heater, the target user who needs to use hot water can be actively obtained, the expected water consumption information of the target user can be determined, and the intelligent water heater can be controlled to start according to the expected water consumption information of the target user; in the whole starting process of the water heater, artificial manual control of the user is not needed; hot water can be actively prepared for the user through the intelligent water heater before the user uses the hot water, under the control of the intelligent water heater controlling method provided by the invention, the intellectualization of the water heater is reinforced, and the user experience is improved.

The invention discloses an air source low-temperature heat pump water heater, comprising a main machine, a thermal storage heat insulating water tank, a controller, a four-way valve, a jet enthalpy increasing compressor, a high-pressure switch, a sleeve condenser, a reservoir, a drying filter, an electromagnetic valve, an assistant thermal expansion valve, an economizer, a main expansion valve, afin evaporator, a gas-liquid separator, a low-pressure switch and a check valve. The D direction of the four-way valve is connected with a gas discharging pipe of the jet enthalpy increasing compressor through the high-pressure switch, the C direction is connected with a gas inlet of the sleeve condenser, the S direction is connected with a gas absorbing port of the jet enthalpy increasing compressor through the gas-liquid separator and the low-pressure switch, the E direction is connected with a gas outlet of the fin evaporator, an outlet of the sleeve condenser is divided into two paths after passing through the reservoir and the drying filter, the main path directly enters the economizer and then enters a liquid inlet of the fin evaporator through a main thermal expansion valve, the secondary path enters the economizer through a liquid path electromagnetic valve and the assistant thermal expansion valve, and then enters an assistant gas inlet of the jet enthalpy increasing compressor through the check valve. The invention can ensure the supply of hot water all day in every season in northern places.