Abstract: The disclosed technology includes an on-demand water heater which uses an electric heat source to heat the water. The on-demand water heater can have a low fluid capacity heating chamber which has an inlet and an outlet, an electric heat source for heating the water, and a controller to control the electric heat source and maintain the temperature of the water at a predetermined temperature setting. The on-demand water heater can be powered by a direct current power source. The on-demand water heater can also utilize a solar thermal system to provide additional heat to the water.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic boiler control are disclosed. The system can receive flue gas data from a flue gas sensor and can receive blower data associated with a blower of the boiler. The system can determine, based at least in part on the blower data, a current fire status of the boiler and can provide one or more fire-status-specific parameters based on the current fire status of the boiler. The system can compare the flue gas data to a target flue gas value, and in response to determining that the flue gas data is less than the target flue gas value, the system can execute one or more boiler operation rules using the one or more fire-status-specific parameters. The system can output instructions for adjustment of an air-fuel ratio of the boiler based on the boiler operation rules and the one or more fire-status-specific parameters.

Abstract: A grille assembly for an air handling unit is provided. The grille assembly includes a plurality of first wires aligned in a first plane perpendicular to a direction of flow of air and a plurality of second wires aligned in a second plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of air. The plurality of first wires and the plurality of second wires together form a staggered structure to at least partly enclose an air passage opening of the air handling unit. The second plane is parallel to the first plane and separated by an offset distance along a third plane parallel to the direction of flow of air.

Abstract: A water heater monitoring and notification method includes determining, by a controller of a water heater system, a deviation of a duration of a pre-purge operation from a pre-purge duration average value. The method further includes determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a flame current from a flame current average value and determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) parameter from a PWM parameter average value. The method also includes providing a notification related to a combustion system of the water heater system based on at least the deviation of the duration of the pre-purge operation from the pre-purge duration average value, the deviation of the flame current from the flame current average value, and the deviation of the PWM parameter from the PWM parameter average value.

Abstract: System and methods for controlling operating state of a heat transfer system are disclosed herein. The heat transfer system can include temperature sensor positioned at the fluid inlet line and the fluid outlet line and a heat exchanger between the fluid inlet line and the fluid outlet line. The heat transfer system can include a processor communicatively coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor. The processor can determine an inlet temperature of water flowing in the fluid inlet line and outlet temperature of water flowing in the fluid outlet line and can determine a delta temperature based on difference between the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature. Based on the inlet temperature and the delta temperature, the processor can determine an operating state of the heat transfer system.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes systems and methods for reducing temperature overshoot of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The disclosed technology can include a thermostat having a temperature sensor and a controller. The controller can be configured to receive temperature data from the temperature sensor, determine whether a time since the heating cycle of the HVAC unit began is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount of time, and determine whether a current temperature is less than or equal to a low threshold temperature, the low threshold temperature being less than a target temperature. If the current temperature is less than or equal to the low threshold temperature, the controller can determine whether a capacity of the HVAC unit at the end of the heating cycle is greater than a threshold capacity and adjust a response setting of the thermostat by a predetermined adjustment amount.

Abstract: A compression refrigeration system includes a switch to select between a plurality of operation modes of a metering device that controls a rate of flow of a refrigerant to an evaporator of the compression refrigeration system. Each operation mode is associated with a respective refrigerant. Further, the compression refrigeration system includes a reference database that comprises pressure-temperature data associated with a plurality of refrigerants. Furthermore, the compression refrigeration system includes a valve adjustment engine that is communicatively coupled to the switch and the reference database. The valve adjustment engine controls the metering device based on an operation mode of the metering device that is selected using the switch. The operation mode is selected based on a refrigerant with which the compression refrigeration system is currently charged.

Abstract: A water heater includes a tank assembly that defines an insulation cavity between an inner storage tank and an outer jacket. The water heater includes a bottom pad that supports the tank assembly thereon. The bottom pad is disposed in a bottom pan. Gaskets are disposed between the bottom pad and the bottom pan of the water heater. The bottom pad and at least one of the gaskets include apertures that are configured to internally route a leak sensor assembly of the water heater from the bottom pan to a controller of the water heater through the insulation cavity while preventing a leak of insulation material from the insulation cavity to the bottom pan. The water heater also includes a mounting bracket that is coupled to the inner storage tank to securely hold and route a portion of the leak sensor assembly disposed in the insulation cavity to the controller.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are air conditioning systems including a refrigerant line configured to transport a refrigerant; a compressor in fluid communication with the suction line; and a controller in communication with a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of the refrigerant line. The compressor can be configured to move the refrigerant through the refrigerant line, and the refrigerant can have a first temperature at the outlet of the compressor. The controller can be configured to receive sensor data from the sensor indicating a current value associated with the characteristic of the refrigerant line; determine, based at least partially on the sensor data, that the characteristic of the refrigerant line is above a predetermined threshold; and output instructions for the compressor to perform one or more corrective actions.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a portable hand washing station having a sink with an atomizing nozzle that can provide an ultra-low flow of atomized liquid. The atomizing nozzle can reduce consumption of water and reduce the required supply of power for adequate operation of a heating device and a pump of the portable hand washing station. The heating device can include insulation, such that the heating device can provide heated water during an extended operation period.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a water heater system having a blower, an igniter, a burner, a heat exchanger, and a refractory configured to attach to the burner and the heat exchanger. The refractory can include a unitary ceramic housing having a top and a plurality of sidewalls and be configured to retain heat from combustion gases. The top can have a burner aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the burner and the plurality of sidewalls can form a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the heat exchanger. One or more of the sidewalls can additionally have a protrusion extending laterally along an inside surface of the sidewall that is configured to contact the heat exchanger to form a seal between the heat exchanger and the refractory. A sealing material can substantially create a seal between the refractory and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A water heating system can include a first tank-based water heater having a first inlet line and a first outlet line, where the first inlet line provides unheated water to the first tank, and where the first outlet line draws heated water from the first tank. The system can also include a first tankless water heater having a second outlet line, where the second outlet line of the first tankless water heater provides the heated water to a first heated water demand. The system can also include a first valve that controls an amount of the unheated water flowing through the first inlet line to the first tank-based water heater. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, where the controller controls a position of the first valve based on the first heated water demand and a first capacity of the first tankless water heater.

Abstract: The disclosed technology can include a system for monitoring and detecting a fault in a fluid storage tank. A sensor can be located in, on, or proximate the fluid storage tank and can be configured to detect waveforms produced by the fluid storage tank in response to strain. The sensor can convert such waveforms into electrical signals and transmit such electrical signals in the form of vibration data to a controller. The controller can compare the vibration data to stored data, and based on such comparison, determine if a fault is present in the fluid storage tank.

Abstract: A water heater can include a housing and a heating system disposed within the housing, where the heating system is configured to heat a fluid. The water heater can also include a switch coupled to the heating system, where the switch operates between a first position during normal operations and a second position during an outage. The water heater can further include a primary power source coupled to the switch, where the primary power source is configured to provide primary power to the heating system through the switch during the normal operations. The water heater can also include an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) coupled to the switch, where the UPS is configured to provide reserve power to the heating system through the switch during the outage, and where the UPS is integrated with the housing.

Abstract: A leakage mitigation system includes a leakage detection device having a canister configured to: (i) contain a first reactant and a second reactant and, (ii) based on a volume of liquid leaked from a tank, allow the first reactant and the second reactant to react with each other to produce a gas. A shut-off valve coupled to an inlet pipe of the tank is configured to actuate between an open condition and a closed condition. Further, a conduit extending between the leakage detection device and the shut-off valve allows flow of the gas from the leak detection device to the shut off valve. In order to mitigate the leakage of water, the shut-off valve is actuated between the open condition and the closed condition based on the pressure exerted thereon by the flow of the gas.

Abstract: A boiler can have a combustion chamber, a burner, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, and a flue for removing a combustion product from the boiler. The burner has a protruding taper shape such as a cone or similar shape. The protruding taper shape of the burner distributes heat to the heat exchanger more evenly than a cylindrical shaped burner thereby reducing heat losses at the combustion chamber wall and increasing the thermal efficiency. The protruding taper shape of the burner also reduces noise associated with the operation of the burner.

Abstract: A water heater system includes a water heater having a first water outlet and a second water outlet. The water heater system further includes a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet. The water heater system also includes a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet. The flow control valve is configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device.

Abstract: A condensate drain assembly includes a drain pan configured to receive condensate from an evaporator coil of an air conditioning system. The drain pan is configured to be removed from the air conditioning system. The condensate drain assembly also includes a drainage pipe configured to translate the condensate from the drain pan to a drain located beneath the air conditioning system and a drain pan end cap. The drain pan end cap includes a first aperture configured to drain the condensate from the drain pan and a second aperture configured to align with the drainage pipe.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems incorporating a plurality of refrigerant circuits. The system can include a compressor having a first compression chamber, a second compression chamber, and a motor. The system can further include a heat exchanger having a first set of microchannel coils and a second set of microchannel coils. The system can have a first circuit fluidly coupled between the first compression chamber and the first set of microchannel coils and a second circuit fluidly coupled between the second compression chamber and the second set of microchannel coils. Further, the first circuit comprises a first refrigerant and the second circuit comprises a second refrigerant.

Abstract: A method of controlling water heater pilot flame ignition includes receiving, by a controller of a water heater, a user input and controlling a pilot gas valve to start a gas flow to a pilot burner in response to the user input. The method further includes, in response to the user input, controlling, by the controller, an igniter to generate an ignition spark for lighting a pilot flame. The method also includes controlling, by the controller, the pilot gas valve to maintain the gas flow to the pilot burner if the pilot flame is lit.