Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency of a transcritical heat pump water heater system is provided, as well as the corresponding system. The refrigerant, such as CO2, is compressed to a supercritical point and passed through a gas cooler that is wrapped at least partially around a water storage tank, wherein the refrigerant transfers heat to water stored in the tank. The hot water is discharged from the storage tank proximate to a top of the tank, and cold water is introduced into the tank proximate to a bottom of the tank. The supercritical refrigerant is directed to flow through the gas cooler from a top point to a lowermost point in a flow direction such that the refrigerant exits the gas cooler proximate to the bottom of the tank at a location of the coldest water within the storage tank.

Abstract: A water heater comprises a body defining a chamber for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the chamber for flowing water therethrough and one or more power consuming features/functions including a heater for heating the water within the chamber. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the water heater in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the water heater in the energy savings mode.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator includes a storage tank in fluid communication with a water inlet. The storage tank is configured to retain water flowing into the water inlet. An auxiliary tank is in fluid communication with the storage tank. The auxiliary tank includes a housing with a piston disposed therein. The piston is movable in a first direction to fill a portion of an interior volume of the housing with water and in a second direction to expel water from the interior volume of the housing.

Abstract: A pump drained solar water heating system, includes a solar collector; a reversible pump; a reservoir for storing heat transfer fluid; an insulated water storage tank for storing the potable water; piping for fluidically connecting the pump to the solar collector, the heat transfer fluid reservoir; and a heat exchanger; and a controller for operating the pump to transmit fluid in a forward flow or reverse flow direction.

Abstract: A hinge assembly and a refrigerator using the assembly are disclosed. The assembly rotatably mounts an access door for a compartment of the refrigerator to part of refrigerator that defines the compartment. The hinge assembly has a body coupled to the part and a hinge manifold supported by the body and slidably received in the access door. The manifold has a first supply conduit for supplying a working medium to an icemaker disposed in the access door and a first return conduit for returning the working medium from the icemaker. The hinge assembly can be manufactured as a separate module to be assembled with the refrigerator or retrofit into an existing refrigerator.

Abstract: A tankless water heating auxiliary system for a solar water heating system, includes a solar collector; a tankless water heater auxiliary system; an insulated water storage tank storing the potable water; a heat exchange system for heating stored water; and piping for connecting the collector, the storage tank and the heat exchanger in fluid communication. A first sensor is connected to and located adjacent the storage tank for sensing the temperature of the stored water at an outlet of the tank.

Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency of a transcritical heat pump water heater system is provided, as well as the corresponding system. The refrigerant, such as CO2, is compressed to a supercritical point and passed through a gas cooler that is wrapped at least partially around a water storage tank, wherein the refrigerant transfers heat to water stored in the tank. The hot water is discharged from the storage tank proximate to a top of the tank, and cold water is introduced into the tank proximate to a bottom of the tank. The supercritical refrigerant is directed to flow through the gas cooler from a top point to a lowermost point in a flow direction such that the refrigerant exits the gas cooler proximate to the bottom of the tank at a location of the coldest water within the storage tank.

Abstract: A heat pump water heater system includes a water storage tank and a sealed heat pump cycle with a compressor, a condenser or gas cooler, an evaporator, and a refrigerant. The condenser/gas cooler is disposed in a heat exchange relationship with at least a portion of the water storage tank for heating water within the tank. The tank includes an outlet through which hot water is discharged, and a cold water inlet that is disposed so as to introduce cold water into the tank at a location of a bottommost portion of the condenser/gas cooler. The cold water introduced into the tank is not pre-heated by hot water in the tank so as to establish a thermodynamically efficient temperature differential between the cold water and hot water in the tank.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A water heating control and storage system, including an insulated tank for containing water to be heated. The storage system has a heat exchanger connected to the tank for using energy stored during off peak times as in water heated above normal storage temperature. An operation control device receives a demand response signal and enables water to be heated in a heat storing mode to heat water for usage. A method for controlling a water heating storage system includes providing an insulated tank for containing water to be heated; providing a heat exchanger coupled to the tank; and selectively operating in a heat storing mode in which water in the tank is heated to a higher than normal temperature and a heat exchange mode during which heat is extracted from the water stored in the tank by a heat exchanger for supplying stored energy to another energy consuming load in response to a demand response signal.

Abstract: A hot water heater, and method of regulating the same, which includes a PID control. The PID control is responsive to inputs such as water temperature in the hot water heater and the flow rate of water such as through inlets and outlets coupled to the hot water heater. In one embodiment, the PID control generates an output that modifies the operating parameters of a heating device to accommodate changes in the temperature of the fluid in the hot water heater. The output results from one or more modules of a three-term control structure, wherein the modules comprise one or more of a proportional control module, an integral control module, and a derivative control module. Each of the modules is assigned at least one term, wherein the term is defined in accordance with gain parameters such as a proportional gain, an integral gain, and a derivative gain.

Abstract: A dispensing system for an appliance has a main tank for holding a fluid. The main tank controls the temperature of the fluid. A dispenser outlet fluidly is connected to the tank by a dispenser fluid line. An auxiliary tank holds a volume of the fluid. A flow control device selectively moves the fluid held in the auxiliary tank to the main tank then through the dispenser fluid line to the dispenser outlet and selectively removes the fluid remaining in the dispenser fluid line after dispensing.

Abstract: A water heating control and storage system, including an insulated tank for containing water to be heated. The tank has at least two heating elements, including an upper heating element and a lower heating element. An operation control device receives a demand response signal and enables each element to independently heat water for usage. A method for controlling a water heating storage system includes providing an insulated tank for containing water to be heated; providing an upper heating element with a thermostat and thermal limiting device and a lower heating element with a thermostat and thermal limiting device to heat upper and lower portions of water inside the tank; and providing a pair of switches for enabling each of the heating elements to independently heat upper and lower portions of the water for usage.

Abstract: A water heater comprises a body defining a chamber for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the chamber for flowing water therethrough and one or more power consuming features/functions including a heater for heating the water within the chamber. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the water heater in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the water heater in the energy savings mode.

Abstract: A hinge assembly and a refrigerator using the assembly are disclosed. The assembly rotatably mounts an access door for a compartment of the refrigerator to part of refrigerator that defines the compartment. The hinge assembly has a body coupled to the part and a hinge manifold supported by the body and slidably received in the access door. The manifold has a first supply conduit for supplying a working medium to an icemaker disposed in the access door and a first return conduit for returning the working medium from the icemaker. The hinge assembly can be manufactured as a separate module to be assembled with the refrigerator or retrofit into an existing refrigerator.

Abstract: An appliance for conditioning air of a room comprises one or more power consuming features/functions including a temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the appliance in the energy savings mode.

Abstract: A dispensing system for an appliance is shown. The dispensing system has a main tank for holding a fluid. The main tank controls the temperature of the fluid. A dispenser outlet fluidly connected to the tank by a dispenser fluid line. An auxiliary tank for holds a volume of the fluid. A flow control device selectively moves the fluid held in the auxiliary tank to the main tank then through the dispenser fluid line to the dispenser outlet and selectively removes the fluid remaining in the dispenser fluid line after dispensing.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator includes a storage tank in fluid communication with a water inlet. The storage tank is configured to retain water flowing into the water inlet. An auxiliary tank is in fluid communication with the storage tank. The auxiliary tank includes a housing with a piston disposed therein. The piston is movable in a first direction to fill a portion of an interior volume of the housing with water and in a second direction to expel water from the interior volume of the housing.

Abstract: A method for operating a water cooler, wherein the water cooler includes a cooling system, a storage compartment assembly, a water dispenser assembly, and a climate control assembly including a thermostat and a control capillary, includes coupling the control capillary to the thermostat, and coupling the thermostat to the cooling system such that the thermostat controls the operational state of the cooling system. The method includes positioning the control capillary adjacent each of the storage compartment assembly and the water dispenser assembly, determining the temperature of the storage compartment assembly and the water dispenser assembly using the control capillary, and cooling the storage compartment assembly and the water dispenser assembly using the cooling system.