2866 results about "Hot water supply" patented technology

PCT No. PCT / NZ95 / 00084 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 28, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 28, 1997 PCT Filed Sep. 14, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 08683 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 21, 1996A solar concentrator for producing usable power as heat and / or electricity uses a self-steering heliostat 1502 to concentrate solar radiation 1509 onto an absorbing surface such as, or including, a solar cell array 1511 capable of absorbing power from the radiation, meanwhile removing heat (such as from long-wave infra-red radiation or resistive losses) from the surface with fluid heat transfer means 1503, 1504, then making effective use of that low-grade heat. Thus the solar cell array is kept relatively cool and a larger proportion of the solar energy incident on the reflector unit is used. The invention uses electricity 1506 from the solar cells to move a transporting fluid through a heat exchanger 1504. Excess electricity may be available for local storage or use 1510, or feeding 1512 to the power distribution grid. Applications include warming swimming pools 1501, heating hot-water supplies using excess electricity, or warming, lighting and ventilating open spaces.

A water faucet assembly providing touchless water temperature and water flow adjustment. The assembly comprises a spout, a water mixing valve, at least one proximity sensor, and a microcomputer. The water mixing valve provides a mix and controls the flow of hot water from a hot water supply and cold water from a cold water supply to the spout. The at least one proximity sensor provides a water temperature or water flow input signal having a value corresponding to the distance of an object from the sensor. The microcomputer is responsive to the value of the water temperature input signal to control the water mixing valve and generate a mixture of the hot and cold water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor. The microcomputer is also responsive to the value of the water flow input signal to provide a flow of water from the spout corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor.

An improved pulsatory slit apparatus to be connected for a dental hygiene. Supply line valves to be shutoff before connecting the devices. By disconnecting cold water conduit of a faucet of a sink from a domestic cold water supply line valve in a bathroom and reconnecting it to 19B, and by connecting the valve to 18A as shown in FIG. 1, it becomes an operative device as shown in FIG. 2. For a combination of hot and cold water, by disconnecting the cold water supply line valve as previously stated and by disconnecting the hot water conduit of the faucet from the hot water supply line valve in a bathroom and reconnecting the cold water connector to a top right side straight end 19B of an apparatus and the hot water connector to a top left side straight end 19B of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3, this process completes a connection of the faucet and the apparatus. To complete the connection of the apparatus and the supply lines it requires two conduits of the same size hexagonal or of similar configurational nuts at the four ends of the conduits. One conduit connects to the cold water supply line valve and the other end of the conduit connects to the bottom right side straight end 19B of the apparatus. The second conduit connects to the hot water supply line valve and the other end of the conduit connects to a bottom left side straight end 19B of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3. This process completes the connections of the supply lines of the apparatus and it becomes an operative device as shown in FIG. 4. An open-shutoff orifice valve directs the water to a hand held cylindrical device. The hand held cylindrical device having a pressure control valve assembly and the assembly having an off-on pressure control dial. A nipple of a slit orientation is attachable to the hand held cylindrical device. The hand held cylindrical device with the pressure control dial at fingertip redirects the water under pressure to the nipple for users' teeth and gums. The nipple provides the users strong pulsatory slits of thousands of tiny pulses, not just droplets as described in the prior arts. The pressure control dial let the users control the desirable pressure for comfortable use of the dental hygiene pulsatory slit apparatus.

When heating up the water in the lower inner part of a hot water tank by a heat pump unit, a control unit stops the heat-up operation while leaving the hot water in an amount corresponding to the residual water capacity in the hot water tank detected by water level thermistors. In the heat-up operation in the hot water tank, the residual hot water capacity in the tank is first detected, then the heat-up operation is stopped when the residual hot water reaches an amount corresponding to the detected residual hot water capacity. At this point, the hot water is stored so that the hot water newly heated up by the heat pump unit is laid above the residual hot water for the preceding day. Consequently, the reduction in the operating efficiency of the heat pump cycle is prevented without supplying the medium-temperature residual hot water to a condenser.

A water use and / or a water energy use monitoring apparatus that is affixed to the hot and cold main water supply piping for continuously (or on demand) monitoring and displaying the water use within a residential or commercial building. A first wire or wireless communication is incorporated to electronically communicate with a remote display for viewing by the owner of a commercial building or occupier / resident of a home. A second optional wire or wireless communication can be incorporated that can be monitored by civil, commercial, governmental or municipal operators or agencies, using a remote display and / or recorder or by a secure wire or wireless communication network (e.g. cell phone communication technology). A third wireless communication can be incorporated to electronically communicate water parameter data utilizing typical cell tower technology and / or mesh network technology.

In a hot-water supply system with a heat pump cycle, a control unit controls operation of an expansion valve based on a temperature difference between a refrigerant temperature at an outlet side of a refrigerant passage in a water heat exchanger and a water temperature at an inlet side of a water passage in the water heat exchanger. When the expansion valve is controlled in a direction increasing a valve opening degree, the control unit sets an upper limit opening degree of the expansion valve, for obtaining a refrigerant pressure corresponding to a target hot-water temperature, and controls the expansion valve in an opening degree range smaller than the upper limit opening degree.

A drum type washing machine, where steam and hot water are supplied to heat wash water, including: a water tub for containing wash water; a rotating drum rotatably mounted in the water tub and having, at a peripheral wall thereof, a plurality of through holes; a heating tank for heating water and generating steam; a water supply unit for supplying water into the water tub and the heating tank; and a steam supply pipe, adapted to guide the steam from the heating tank to the water tub, connected to the water tub In this drum type washing machine, the temperature of wash water can be rapidly increased in accordance with steam and hot water supplied into the water tub. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the overall wash time while reducing the amount of wash water to be used.

An instant hot water delivery system for efficiently heating water when necessary to provide instant hot water to a faucet. The instant hot water delivery system generally includes a water heater including an inlet and an outlet, a cold water supply line introducing cold water into the inlet, a hot water supply line connecting the outlet to a faucet and a recirculation line connected to the hot water supply downstream of the outlet and the cold water supply line upstream of the inlet. The recirculation line forms a first recirculation loop for water within the water heater to flow during a first water heating process. A recirculation pump is connected to the cold water supply line between the local recirculation line and the inlet for circulating the water during the water heating process.

To provide a heat pump water heater outdoor unit and heat pump water heater capable of preventing reduction in heating / hot water supply ability even at a low ambient temperature. A heat pump water heater outdoor unit, in which a compressor, a water heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and an air heat exchanger are connected with piping, includes a first internal heat exchanger provided between the water heat exchanger and the first expansion valve and used for heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing between the water heat exchanger and the first expansion valve and a refrigerant flowing between the air heat exchanger and the compressor, an injection circuit branching off at a point between the first internal heat exchanger and the first expansion valve and to inject the refrigerant into the compressor through a second expansion valve; and a second internal heat exchanger for heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing between the first internal heat exchanger and the first expansion valve and the refrigerant flowing between the second expansion valve and the compressor in the injection circuit.

A hot-water supply apparatus is an apparatus which has a primary heat exchanger absorbing sensible heat of combustion exhaust and a secondary heat exchanger absorbing latent heat of the combustion exhaust, and improves a freezing prevention function of the hot-water supply apparatus at a cold period. Further, this apparatus has a temperature detection means (temperature sensors) which detects a freezing prevention temperature, a combustion means (a burner group) which supplies combustion exhaust generated by combustion to the primary and secondary heat exchangers, an air supply means which supplies air to the combustion means, and a control means (a control unit) which makes the combustion means burn and drives the air supply means based on a detected temperature of the temperature detection means. When the temperature detection means detects the freezing prevention temperature, the combustion means is burned for a settled time to heat the primary heat exchanger, and the air supply means is driven to stream air from a side of the primary heat exchanger to the secondary heat exchanger for a given time after a combustion stop of the combustion means. By this, a side of the secondary heat exchanger is heated by remaining heat of the side of the primary heat exchanger.

A heat pump type hot water supply outdoor apparatus, in a compressor, a water heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a medium pressure receiver, a second expansion valve, and an air heat exchanger are connected circularly, has an injection circuit, which is a bypass for a part of the refrigerant between the medium pressure receiver and the second pressure reduction unit, to inject the part of refrigerant into a compression chamber of the compressor, and has a third expansion valve and an internal heat exchanger for carrying out heat exchange between the refrigerant whose pressure is reduced by the third expansion valve and the refrigerant between the medium pressure receiver and the second expansion valve, a pressure detection sensor for detecting a condensing pressure, and a controller for starting an injection control by the third expansion valve at the time when the condensing pressure detected by the pressure sensor or the condensing temperature calculated from the condensing pressure becomes a first predetermined value or more and stopping the injection control at the time when the condensing pressure or the condensing temperature becomes a second predetermined value which is smaller than the first predetermined value, or less. With this arrangement, an appropriate injection control can be realized and a high hot water supply / heating capability operation can be carried out.

A water heater system is provided with a solar water heater and an electric water heater having one or more electric heating elements. The solar and electric water heaters are configured to provide a common hot water output. A controller is operatively configured with the water heaters and receives a first signal indicative of a current power demand state of an associated electric utility. In response to the received signal, the controller operates the electric water heater in an energy savings mode during periods of high power demand wherein power consumption of the electric heating elements is restricted. The controller is operatively configured to modulate the degree of power consumption restriction placed on the electric heating elements in the energy savings mode as a function of current hot water supply capacity of the solar water heater.

The invention discloses a self-balancing integrated application system of a solar energy-ground source heat pump, comprising an air conditioner end system, a ground source heat pump system, a hot water supply system, a solar energy heat-collection system and an automatic control system, wherein the ground source heat pump system comprises a ground buried pipe heat exchanger (6), a compressor (1),an indoor side heat exchanger (3) and an environment side heat exchanger (5), and the automatic control system is used for controlling all the automatic equipment in the self-balancing integrated application system of the solar energy-ground source heat pump. The invention can effectively realize the functions of cold and warm air conditioning and hot water supply, mainly can switch the working modes of the ground source heat pump and a solar energy hot water system automatically by the control system, thereby solving the problem of imbalance of the ground source heat pump in winter and summerand enhancing the utilization rate of regenerative energy (solar energy and geothermal energy) in energy used for construction to the maximum.

The invention relates to an integrated absorption heat-exchanging unit, belonging to the field of the heating and hot water supply devices and comprising a hot-water absorption heat-exchanger and a normal water-water heat exchanger which are combined, wherein, the hot-water absorption heat-exchanger adopts the means of two-level evaporation and two-level absorption. The unit comprises a generator, a condenser, a low-pressure absorber, a high-pressure absorber, a low-pressure evaporator, a high-pressure evaporator, a solution heat exchanger, a throttle device, a solution pump, a water-water heat exchanger and various connecting pipes and accessories. The invention can effectively reduce the backwater temperature of a first-time network of a collective heating system, thus greatly raising the temperature difference of between hot water supply and backwater of the first-time network, further greatly reducing the initial investment to the pipeline system and the power cost of the pump running, creating conditions for utilizing the low-quality heat energy even waste heat, etc., enhancing the comprehensive energy utilization efficiency of the system and reducing the heat supply cost.

Methods and apparatus for predicting the availability of hot water for showering and bathing. One or more parameters corresponding to the operation of a water heater are monitored over time. Data corresponding to the monitored parameters are processed to determine a rate at which hot water is being consumed by the shower / bath and / or other hot water consumers. Based on a hot water consumption rate and determination of a current hot water availability condition, a time at which the temperature of hot water supplied by the water heater is projected to fall below a minimum temperature threshold is determined. In one embodiment, the apparatus include a thermal-modeling computer and a control / monitor interface that is disposed in or proximate to a shower. In one embodiment, the thermal-modeling computer is installed at a water heater and data is transmitted between the thermal-modeling computer and the control / monitor interface via a wireless signal. The techniques also can be used to determine whether an adequate supply of hot water exists for a bath prior to drawing the bath.

The system is unique in that a structure's plumbing lines are effectively routed, to stop energy and water waste, while adding little to construction cost. Water pressure to hot water supply (50) is controlled through a selectable flow control valve (10). A hot water manifold (3) and check valves 42 and 43 produce a dual line connection, between hot water manifold (3) and the hot water use area. In the water saver mode, positioning selectable flow control valve (10) causes pump (4) to draw water from distribution conduit (6), through selectable flow control valve (10), through cold water manifold (12) and solenoid valve (37) to hot water supply (50). Pump (4) causes hot water to fill distribution conduit (6), to the hot water use area. This circulation delivers hot water to replace water standing in the line. Circulation period is determined by controller (22). When selectable flow control valve (10) is positioned to the use mode, supply pressure at cold water conduit (28) is applied through selectable flow control valve (10), then via cold water manifold (12), to hot water supply (50). Positioning selectable flow control valve (10) to the energy saver mode causes, cold water pressure to be interrupted to hot water supply (50) and directed through feedback conduit (72) and conduit (71), to a junction down stream from hot water manifold (3). Supply pressure forces hot water towards open hot water outlet (45), thus all hot water delivered from hot water manifold (3) is utilized.

A composite energy system of solar energy, ground source heat pump and chilled water storage comprises an air conditioner, a domestic hot water supply device, one or more device (hereinafter referred to as host) of a solar energy heat-collecting device, a heat storage water tank unit, a cold storage water tank unit and a ground source heat pump system, a ground heat exchanger, an auxiliary heating device, a circulating water pump, a first electric three-way valve, a second electric three-way valve, a first electric two-way valve and a second electric two-way valve, wherein the circulating water pump is communicated with the air conditioner, and the auxiliary heating device is communicated with the domestic hot water supply device. The invention fully utilizes renewable energy sources such as solar energy, geothermal energy and biomass energy to masterly combine the ground source heat pump air-conditioning system with the solar energy hot water system and the chilled water storage system and construct a comprehensive energy system combined by the domestic hot water system, the ground source heat pump, the chilled water storage air-conditioning system and the like; and the invention is completely combined with the entire building so as to greatest reduce the floor space and the investment and increase the energy efficiency and economic performance of the system.

A hot water supply system including a water heater that includes a storage unit storing at least device information of another water heater, and performs hot water supply control by which the water heater cooperates with the other water heater, these water heaters being able to supply hot water according to a hot water supply request; one or a plurality of the other water heater that is connected to the water heater in parallel, and supplies hot water according to the hot water supply control by the water heater; communication connection means that communicably connects the water heater and the other water heater; water supply means that supplies water to the water heater and the other water heater; and hot water supply means that supplies hot water heated by the water heater and the other water heater to a hot water supply destination.

Disclosed are a removable water heating device that can be conveniently replaced in case of leakage of water or breakage of a heating wire for a heater in the water heating device, and a refrigerator having the removable water heating device. The refrigerator having the removable water heating device includes a water supply pipe installed in a door of the refrigerator to supply drinking water from the outside, a water heating device installed in the door to heat a heating pipe installed between a hot-water supply pipe connected to the water supply pipe and a hot-water outlet pipe provided in a dispenser, couplers for coupling the hot-water supply pipe with the hot-water outlet pipe, an installation case configured so that the water heating device can be inserted from the upper side of the door, a cover for closing the installation case, and a through-hole formed in the lower side of the installation case.

An engine system with a thermal storage device is capable of efficiently supplying heat from a thermal storage device to an internal combustion engine. The engine system (1) equipped with the thermal storage tank (100) supplies the hot water stored in the thermal storage tank (100) to a cylinder head (20a) of the internal combustion engine (20) before the starting thereof. At this time, an electronic control unit (90) sets a target value of the temperature of the internal combustion engine (20) at the start of the hot water supply in such a manner that the lower the temperature of the internal combustion engine (20), the lower does the target value become. As a result, a variation in combustion states between cylinders can be suppressed at the starting of the internal combustion engine (20).

In a vehicle air conditioner with a heat pump cycle having an interior heat exchanger and an exterior heat exchanger, when a frosting on a surface of the exterior heat exchanger is determined and when a temperature of hot water supplied to a heater core is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the exterior heat exchanger is defrosted in a defrosting operation. Accordingly, the defrosting operation can be performed while a sufficient heating can be obtained.

A water control valve configured for use with a bypass valve to automatically bypass cold or tepid water in a hot water supply line so as to maintain hot water at the fixture. The water control valve is useful for shower / tub facilities and for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashing machines. The water control valve for use with shower / tub facilities is adapted for the bypass valve to attach to or be adjacent to the water control valve by utilizing bypass ports, passageways and / or connectors. The water control valve for use with appliances is adapted to have a second outlet for connecting to a second water control valve or, for combination service valves, to have the bypass valve disposed in the tubular section between the hot and cold water components. The preferred bypass valve is a thermostatically controlled bypass valve of the type having a thermal actuating element.

In a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus having a compressor (16), an outdoor heat exchanger (22), an expansion valve (24) and at least one indoor heat exchangers, and a water heat exchanger (18) for heat-exchanging refrigerant and water to achieve hot water, the water heat exchanger (18) is equipped in the refrigerant circuit so as to be connected to the outdoor heat exchanger (22) in series in the refrigerant circuit.

The object of the present invention is to provide a compact lightweight heat pump hot-water supply system. The hot-water supply system heats water through heat exchange between high-temperature refrigerant of a heat pump circuit and water of a water circulating circuit. The system is an instantaneous water heater unit for instantaneously heating, at a water heat exchanger, water supplied through a water supply pipe and supplying hot water to a using end unit. In this system, therefore, large-capacity hot-water storage tank in conventional systems is no longer needed. Sufficient heat of condensation to heat water can not be produced, because pressure conditions of the heat pump circuit is not stabilized just after the start of operation. Therefore, during a short period of rising time, hot water stored in a hot-water supply tank and water from the water heat exchanger are mixed and the mixture is supplied to keep the hot water at a preset temperature. It is, therefore, possible to downsize the hot-water supply tank.

It relates to a wind energy heater using wind energy compressing gases. It has a pylon bench with a fixed windwheel, a compressor joint for windwheel and compressed gases. The compressor can change mechanical energy into heat through compressing of gases. Twp pressure tanks connect with intake and outlet valves of the compressor to adjust the air pressure inside the compressor. The pylon bench is divided into top and down parts, with a middle rotating table and the top of the pylon bench also being able to rotate. It can be used for indoor heating and hot water supply.

The invention relates to a solar low-temperature thermal power generation and combined heat and cold supply system, which solves the problems that the lower-temperature solar thermal power generation has lower efficiency, is unsuitable for small-scale application and can not supply electric energy, cold energy, warm air and hot water simultaneously. The system consists of a composite paraboloid heat collector system, a phase-change heat storage system, an organic Rankine cyclic power generating system, an absorption and refrigeration system, a hot water supply system and a warm air supply system which are connected in parallel. An inlet of a steam turbine of the power generating system is communicated with an organic working substance outlet of an evaporator; an outlet of the steam turbine is communicated with a mixer through a heat regenerator; an air suction port of the middle part of the steam turbine is communicated with another end port of the mixer through a pipeline; the other side of the heat regenerator is connected in series with a condenser; a third port of the mixer is communicated with an organic working substance inlet of the evaporator through a pump; and the output end of the steam turbine is connected with a power generator. The system has high operating efficiency and three combined supplies of heat, power and cold, is suitable for small-scale application, is easy to build and low in cost, does not need to consume one-off energy and is favorable for environmental protection.

A water heater includes one or a plurality of heat pumps that heat tap water or return water from a hot water supply part, a circulation line that supplies hot water heated in the heat pumps to the hot water supply part, and introduces the return water from the hot water supply part to the heat pumps, an incoming water pipe that joins to between the hot water supply part in the circulation line and the heat pumps and supplies the tap water, a circulation pump that returns the return water to the heat pumps and circulates the return water through the circulation line, and a control unit that controls operation or stop of the circulation pump according to driving operation time or elapsed stop time by linking a combustion process of the heat pumps.

There is provided a circulation type water purifier which maximally prevents production of bacteria and microbes by periodically circulating water in the water purifier, and improves lifetime and power saving of a pump by varying the number of circulation times depending on an amount of water used. The circulation type water purifier includes a clean water filter; a storage tank in which water purified through the clean water filter is stored; a cold / hot water supply tank cooling and heating the water supplied from the storage tank to drain the cooled and heated water to respective drain outlets; a drain pipe 351 connected to the cold / hot water supply tank to drain the water in the cold / hot water supply tank when cleansing the interior of the cold / hot water supply tank; a pump 400 periodically circulating water at every circulation time under a control of a microcomputer; a circulation pipe connecting the clean water filter, the cold / hot water supply tank, the drain pipe and the pump, the circulation pipe including a first circulation pipe connecting the clean water filter and the storage tank, a first auxiliary circulation pipe connecting the storage tank and the cold / hot water supply tank, a second circulation pipe connecting the storage tank and the clean water filter, and a second auxiliary circulation pipe connecting the cold / hot water supply tank and the second circulation pipe! and a sterilizer installed to the circulation pipe to sterilize water flowed into the circulation pipe.

There is provided a circulation type hot water supply device in which a downstream end of a hot water delivering channel 6 connected to a heat exchanger 4 of a water heater 1 is connected to a water supply channel 5 upstream of the heat exchanger, and a circulating pump 25 that returns hot water fed from the heat exchanger to the hot water delivering channel to the heat exchanger through the water supply channel is provided in the hot water delivering channel. The device can reliably identify an abnormality when it occurs, such as adhesion of a deposit to an inner surface of a heat absorbing pipe 4b to reduce heat exchange efficiency. A diagnosis is started when a hot water delivering tap 7 is closed and a burner 3 is subjected to combustion. In the diagnosis, supply of water to the heat exchanger 4 is first stopped to shut down the burner 3. Then, the presence of an abnormality is determined when an amount of increase of a detection temperature from a hot water delivering temperature sensor 20 reaches a predetermined threshold value or more.