Abstract: A heating system includes a thermal battery, a heat pump configured to store heat in the thermal battery, a photovoltaic thermal system including a solar electric generator and a solar thermal generator, wherein the solar thermal generator is configured to store heat in the thermal battery and the solar electric generator is configured to generate electrical charge and a housing within which the thermal battery and the heat pump are disposed and atop which the photovoltaic thermal system is disposed.

Abstract: A method for determining the suitability of a thermal storage medium of a thermal battery based in a locale, the method including predicting a required concentration of the thermal storage medium based on historical temperature data of the locale and predicted temperature data of the locale, wherein the required concentration of the thermal storage medium is predicted based upon a concentration of the thermal storage medium corresponding to the historical temperature data and the predicted temperature data and determining the concentration of the thermal storage medium and comparing the concentration of the thermal storage medium to the required concentration of the thermal storage medium, wherein if the required concentration of the thermal storage medium is higher than the concentration of the thermal storage medium, the thermal storage medium is said to be unsuitable.

Abstract: A heating system including at least one thermal battery including a storage container for holding a fluid, an outlet fluid conductor through which the fluid exits the storage container, an inlet fluid conductor through which the fluid enters the storage container, a first valve interposed in the outlet fluid conductor; and a second valve interposed in the inlet fluid conductor, wherein each thermal battery is configured to be thermally chargeable and dischargeable by controlling the first valve and the second valve to allow a flow of the fluid in concert and to disallow a flow in concert.

Abstract: A heating system including a water conductor, a valve configured to cooperate with a fluid moving device which together operable to selectively circulate a heat transfer fluid in at least one of a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit, a heat exchanger and a blower operable to supply a stream of fluid over the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the first fluid circuit, wherein the heat exchanger being disposed to transfer heat between the heat transfer fluid and the heat exchanger, a coil fluidly connected to the second fluid circuit, wherein the coil is configured to be disposed on a drainage tube to transfer heat between the heat transfer fluid and the coil, a final heat exchanger configured for thermally coupling the first fluid circuit and the water conductor and the second fluid circuit and the water conductor.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for verifying the proper functioning of a fluid flow control device of a fluid system, the method including determining whether at least one pressure sensor is functional and if the at least one pressure sensor is considered functional, determining whether a bypass valve is functional and if the bypass valve is considered functional, determining whether at least one flow sensor is functional, if the at least one flow sensor is considered dysfunctional, a flow sensor fault is raised; and otherwise if the at least one pressure sensor is considered dysfunctional, using the at least one flow sensor to determine whether the bypass valve is functional, if the bypass valve is considered functional, determining whether at least one pump is functional, a pump alert is raised if the at least one pump is considered dysfunctional.

Abstract: A method for detecting an insufficient power condition of a power supply to a system from a distinctive marker using a controller, the method including: upon a power-up of the system, determining an event associated with the distinctive marker; and periodically logging the distinctive marker in a non-volatile memory with respect to time, starting at the power-up of the device.

Abstract: A system for heating a first fluid flow from a first temperature to a second temperature, the system including a hot water supply line for receiving the first fluid flow at a first end and exhausting the first fluid flow at a second end; and a heating system including a heat engine, a thermal battery and a heat exchanger, wherein the thermal battery is configured to be replenished at a point of heat transfer by the heat engine and the hot water supply line is configured to receive heat from the thermal battery via the heat exchanger to elevate the temperature of the first fluid flow from the first temperature to the second temperature.

Abstract: A method for formulating a service prognosis for an appliance, the method including determining a representative usage during a current period of time, extrapolating a prior usage based on the representative usage for a prior period of time to result in a prior usage and determining the service prognosis based on substantially the prior usage.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for verifying the proper functioning of flow devices of a fluid system including at least one of at least one fluid heater, a bypass conductor connected in parallel to the at least one fluid heater, a bypass valve configured to control flow through the bypass conductor, at least one flow valve for controlling a fluid flow through the fluid system, at least one pump, at least one pressure sensor for obtaining a pressure of the fluid flow and at least one flow sensor for obtaining a flowrate of the fluid flow. The method includes selectively turning on and off the bypass valve and the at least one pump and obtaining pressure measurements at various times during the execution of the diagnostic method to identify the health of the at least one pressure sensor and the at least one pump.

Abstract: A heating system including a heating device; a thermal battery loop including a thermal battery and a pump configured to circulate a working fluid through the thermal battery; a fluid conductor for receiving the first fluid at an inlet at a first temperature and delivering the first fluid at a second temperature; a first heat exchanger configured to thermally couple the heating device and the fluid conductor at a first location of the fluid conductor; a second heat exchanger configured to thermally couple the thermal battery loop and the heating device; and a third heat exchanger configured to thermally couple the thermal battery and the fluid conductor at a second location of the fluid conductor, wherein the second location of the fluid conductor is a location downstream from the first location of the fluid conductor between the inlet and the outlet of the fluid conductor.

Abstract: A method for controlling ozonation in a water supply system including an ozonator, a controller functionally connected to the ozonator, a flow meter configured for detecting a flowrate through the water supply system, a valve configured for turning on or off of the water supply system, the method including using the controller for; determining at least one event from flowrate data of the flow meter over a time period of a plurality of days, the at least one event including a time span of a day in which the flowrate remains below or at a threshold value over the time span of a day within each day of the plurality of days; determining overlaps of the at least one event of all days within the time period; determining a frequency of the overlaps of the at least one event over the time period and determining a requirement for ozone.

Abstract: A present heating system or heating and cooling system does not include a tank for storing potable hot water in anticipation of a potable hot water demand. Although one or more temperature sensors may be used for providing feedback to heating of the contents of a tank water heater to achieve a setpoint temperature, the effect of stratification can cause layers of fluid having different temperatures in the tank water heater. Therefore, although portions of the contents of a water heater may be disposed at a setpoint temperature that is unfavorable for Legionella proliferation, there potentially exists other portions that may be disposed at temperatures suitable for Legionella proliferation, especially when the contents have been left unused for an extended period of time.

Abstract: An adaptor for adapting a solar electric generator and solar heater to a thermal storage device, the adaptor including a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port and a pump configured for receiving a fluid through the third port and pulling the fluid through the third port from a thermal storage device to the fourth port, wherein the first port and the fourth port are configured to be supplied on a first surface and the second port and third port are configured to be supplied on a second surface.

Abstract: A sanitizing system for sanitizing a water flow at a point of use, the sanitizing system including an ozone demand indicator configured for determining the existence of a demand for ozone in the water flow; an ozone generator configured to be disposed no more than about 72 inches upstream of the point of use on a fluid conductor supplying the water flow at the point of use, wherein ozone generated by the ozone generator is configured to be disposed in the water flow to sanitize the water flow; and a controller operable to control the ozone demand indicator and the ozone generator responsive to the ozone demand indicator, wherein the controller is configured to cause the ozone generator to start generating ozone upon receiving an indication from the ozone demand indicator that the demand for ozone exists.

Abstract: A method for providing a warning of the risk of Legionella in a fluid conductor, the method including determining the percentage of a duration a fluid is disposed in the fluid conductor at a temperature in which Legionella can thrive during a period, wherein if the percentage of the duration is greater than about 50% of the period, a first indication of a risk of Legionella is raised.

Abstract: A fitting including a main tube including a central axis, a first end and a second end; a branch tube including a central axis, a first end and a second end, wherein the branch tube extending at the first end of the branch tube from the main tube in a first direction between the first end and the second end of the main tube to the second end of the branch tube; a first sub-tube extending from the main tube between the first end and the second end of the main tube in a second direction.

Abstract: A method for determining a failure mode of a comfort device, the method includes obtaining a first input during a first operation of the comfort device, wherein the first operation is a known normal operation; classifying the first input into a class including a series of attributes and storing the first input in a database of input classes; obtaining a second input during a second operation of the comfort device; and classifying the second input into a class including a series of attributes and comparing the class of the second input to the class of the first input in a first comparison, wherein if a match exists, comparing the series of attributes of the second input to the series of attributes of the first input in a second comparison, wherein if a discrepancy is detected, a warning is raised.