Abstract: A water tank configured to store water from a water supply includes an inlet configured to receive water from the water supply, and an outlet configured to dispense water. The water tank includes a reflective coating positioned on an inner surface of the tank, and an end wall including a light emitting diode oriented toward the outlet. The light emitting diode and the reflective coating are operable to disinfect water from the water supply.

Abstract: A media tank includes a housing having a first housing portion coupled to a second housing portion at an interface between the first and second housing portions, the first and second housing portions collectively defining an interior volume of the housing, and a divider positioned within the interior volume of the housing at the interface between the first and second housing portions to separate the interior volume into a first chamber at least partially defined by the first housing portion and the divider and a second chamber at least partially defined by the second housing portion and the divider. The first housing portion is coupled to the second housing portion via a friction weld at the interface. An annular gap is provided between the divider and the first housing portion. Flash from the friction weld is received within the annular gap.

Abstract: A water heating system includes a burner and a gas valve fluidly connected to the burner to deliver a flow of combustible gas thereto. The gas valve has an adjustable throttle for the flow of combustible gas, along with a motor to adjust a position of the throttle. A controller is configured to determine a throttle position corresponding to a target air-fuel ratio of the burner during a calibration sequence, and to control the motor in order to operate the burner at that target air-fuel ratio throttle position during a start sequence. The controller is configured to monitor a characteristic of the burner during the start sequence, and to initiate the calibration sequence if the monitored characteristic exceeds an error threshold.

Abstract: A cartridge filter includes a feedwater inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, a tube arranged at the center of the cartridge filter, an interior volume of the tube being in fluid communication with the first outlet, and a spiral wound filter assembly extending radially outward from the central tube and including a prefilter, a reverse osmosis filter, and a postfilter. The prefilter is located radially outward from the reverse osmosis filter and the postfilter.

Abstract: A water dispensing unit adapted for communication with a water supply includes a main body including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first axis extending through the first and second ends, and a second axis extending perpendicular to the first axis. The water dispensing unit additionally includes an inlet configured to receive water from the water supply, an outlet configured to dispense water, wherein the outlet extends along an outlet axis, an inner wall including a reflective liner, and a light emitting diode positioned within the main body. The outlet axis is oriented at an angle relative to the second axis to direct water from the water supply toward the light emitting diode before exiting through the outlet.

Abstract: A water heater includes a tank defining an interior space adapted to contain water and a shroud over the water heater and defining a component space inside the shroud. A first pipe nipple is coupled to a spud of the water heater, the first pipe nipple and spud defining a non-collinear axis that is non-collinear with a pipe axis of a pipe to be fluidly connected to the tank. A flexible connector is connected at one end to the first pipe nipple along the non-collinear axis. A second end of the flexible connector is positioned collinear with the pipe axis. A second pipe nipple is coupled at one end to the second end of the flexible connector and coupled at an opposite end with the pipe. Fluid communication is established between the pipe and the interior space of the tank through the pipe nipple and flexible connector.

Abstract: System and methods of operating a water heater receiving power from an electrical grid. The water heater includes a heating element, a controller, and a first control circuit. The first control circuit including an energizing terminal and a microprocessor. The method includes connecting an energizing terminal of the first control circuit between a power output terminal of the controller and the heating element, receiving driving power from the controller based on a temperature signal. The method also includes receiving a control signal from the controller based on electrical grid information, and selectively energizing the heating element, by the microprocessor of the first control circuit and through the energizing terminal of the first control circuit based on the control signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a defrosting control method, a central controller and a heating system. The defrosting control method comprises: heating fluid in a flow passage between an inlet and an outlet of a first heat source by a second heat source, at least in a part of process of defrosting by the first heat source; acquiring an operation parameter of the first heat source, wherein the operation parameter comprises a water outlet temperature and/or a water return temperature and/or an operation parameter of a compressor of the first heat source, comparing a current value of the acquired operation parameter with a preset range of the operation parameter, and adjusting a heat exchange amount between the second heat source and the fluid when the acquired current value is within the preset range.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a water heater, and a scale detection system and method.

Abstract: A control method for a heat pump unit includes acquiring a first output capability set when the heat pump unit reaches a first preset energy efficiency ratio set at a current ambient temperature; acquiring a total demand load demanded by an indoor area having a heating demand or a cooling demand; and causing the heat pump unit to operate in accordance with the first output capability set when the total demand load is smaller than the first output capability set.

Abstract: A system and method for treating water containing at least one contaminant. The system and method include a water treatment module such as a reverse osmosis unit. An electrochemical contaminant detection system is positioned in the waste water stream of the water treatment module. The contaminant detection system includes a contaminant sensor and a water quality sensor module. The contaminant sensor measures the concentration of the contaminant in the waste water stream and the water quality sensor module measures one or more water quality parameters of the waste water stream. A processor uses an algorithm to determine the concentration of the contaminant in the feed water based on the measurements of the contaminant sensor and water quality sensor module.

Abstract: A fluid heating system including a burner unit is operated based on feedback control loops. The fluid heating system comprises a burner unit configured to heat a fluid, a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the appliance, and a controller coupled to the burner unit and the sensor. The controller includes an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to receive a first signal corresponding to the characteristic from the sensor, determine, based on the first signal, a first feedback loop control, control combustion of the burner unit based on the first feedback loop control, determine, based on the first feedback loop control, a second feedback loop control, and control combustion of the burner unit based on the second feedback loop control.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a heat exchange pipe, a heat exchanger and a water heating apparatus. The heat exchange pipe comprises: a pipe body and a plurality of fins fixedly disposed to sleeve the pipe body; a flow guiding structure is provided at a partial outer edge of the fin; and a flow guiding flue is formed between the flow guiding structure and an outer wall of the pipe body. The heat exchange pipe, the heat exchanger and the water heating apparatus provided by the present disclosure can improve the flue gas flow path and the heat exchange efficiency.

Abstract: A water heater includes an outer casing defining a longitudinal axis, an axial direction being defined as extending along the longitudinal axis. The water heater further includes a combustor for production of hot flue gases, a primary heat exchanger including a tube positioned within the outer casing, and a secondary heat exchanger including a plurality of plates coupled together by brazing to form a brazed plate heat exchanger. The secondary heat exchanger includes a first set of passages defined between the plates, and a second set of passages defined between the plates and alternating with the first set of passages in the axial direction. The primary and secondary heat exchangers are in fluid communication such that the flue gases flow through the second set of passages before being exhausted, and water to be heated flows through the first set of passages to a delivery point for use upon demand.

Abstract: A gas-mixing device includes: a shell, where the shell is provided with an air channel for conveying air, a fuel gas channel for conveying fuel gas, and a mixing-gas channel connecting downstream of the air channel and the fuel gas channel. The fuel gas channel includes a first sectional flow area and the air channel includes a second section flow area; which are located on the movable part of the shell. The movable part is provided with a flexible separation component which hermetically separates the air channel and the fuel gas channel. The movable part penetrates through the flexible separation component and enters the air channel and the fuel gas channel and performs a movement to change the first and second sectional flow area.

Abstract: A water heater includes a tank configured to hold a fluid, a sacrificial anode located within the tank, and a controller coupled to the sacrificial anode. The controller is configured to selectively complete and break an electrical circuit connecting the tank and the sacrificial anode. The controller is also configured to measure a shorted anode current through the electrical circuit, to determine a modulation duty cycle based on a current setpoint and the measured shorted anode current, and to repeatedly complete and break the electrical circuit using the modulation duty cycle.

Abstract: A water heater includes an inner water tube coil and an outer water tube coil separated by a drum baffle. The inner and outer coils extend above a top edge of the drum baffle by at least a full turn of each coil. A flue gas bypass path is defined between a top edge of the drum baffle and a top insulation layer above the inner and outer coils. Flue gases flow radially though the inner coil, up along the drum baffle, through the flue gas bypass path, and downwardly over the outer coil to heat water flowing through the inner and outer coils. The water flows into the outer coil at the bottom of the coil, winds upwardly through the outer coil in countercurrent flow with respect to the flue gases, then down through the inner coil.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling power to a water heater. The method comprises providing the water heater in a locked state, wherein at least one heating element of the water heater is inoperable when the water heater is in the locked state, coupling a digital key module to a communications port of the water heater, and receiving a digital key from the digital key module through the communications port. The method comprises coupling an electrical grid controller to the water heater through the communications port and placing the water heater in an unlocked state, wherein the at least one heating element of the water heater is operable when the water heater is in the unlocked state.

Abstract: A tankless water heater includes a scale control module (SCM). The SCM is mounted inside or outside of a cabinet which encloses a heat exchanger and source of heat of the water heater. The SCM may include a connector and a cartridge removably attaching to the connector or may only include a cartridge permanently affixed to the tankless water heater. The tankless water heater includes a continuous water pathway inside the cabinet to supply water to all components of the tankless water heater, including the SCM. The tankless water heater receives supply water at its inlet, treats the supply water in the SCM to generate treated water having reduced scale-forming characteristics compared to the supply water, and heats the treated water in the heat exchanger to generate heated treated water.