Abstract: A heat exchanger having a helix coil incorporated into a stainless steel elongated variable diameter cylindrical housing and a radial direct-firing burner and a blower-driven hot flue gas to heat water. A buffer tank is incorporated within the lumen of the helix coil. At least one rope seal is disposed between adjacent coil loops of a portion of the helix coil for enhancing heat transfer to the helix coil. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger further comprises a Stirling engine comprised of a free piston having hot and cold ends that is disposed within the cavity taken up the buffer tank, wherein the hot end receives heat from the burner and the cold end is cooled by the incoming cold water line to form an electric power generator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a cylindrical body comprising an upper section, a lower section, a side water jacket surrounding the upper and lower sections, a top water jacket disposed atop the upper section and a gas exhaust disposed below the lower section. A water cavity is disposed substantially in the lower section while a gas cavity having a burner is disposed substantially centrally within the gas cavity. A plurality of water tubes disposed in a ring formation, connect the water cavity through the gas cavity to the top water jacket and a plurality of gas tubes also disposed in ring formations, connect the gas cavity through the water cavity to the gas exhaust. At least one of the gas tubes ring has a diameter that is greater than that of the water tubes ring.

Abstract: A burner resonance canceling apparatus adapted to cancel a resonance caused in a burner tube having a side wall, apertures disposed on the side wall, a first end configured for receiving a fuel mixture flow, a closed second end, a central axis extending through the first end and the second end, the apparatus includes a member having an enlarged end, a reduced end and a central axis extending through the enlarged end and the reduced end, wherein the enlarged end is configured to be positioned at the second end, the central axes are substantially coaxially disposed and the reduced end is configured to face the fuel mixture flow brought through the first end into the burner tube and the burner tube and the member cooperate to define a chamber the fuel mixture flow is configured to traverse from the reduced end to the enlarged end.

Abstract: A low pressure drop water heating system comprising a cold side conductor having a receiving end and a closed end; a hot side conductor having an exit end and a closed end; a pump; a bypass conductor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to the receiving end and the second end is adapted to the exit end; at least one heat exchanger having a flow valve; a heat exchanger inlet temperature sensor disposed on the inlet of one of the at least one heat exchanger; an outlet temperature sensor disposed at an outlet of the at least one heat exchanger closest to the exit end; a system outlet temperature sensor disposed on the exit end and a system inlet temperature sensor disposed on the receiving end.

Abstract: A modular interface template configured to receive a plug and play comfort device, the modular interface template including a wall having a first surface and a second surface, an air inlet channel configured to enable air flow from the first surface to the second surface, an air outlet channel configured to enable air flow from the second surface to the first surface, a gas conduit configured to supply fuel from the first surface to the second surface, a water inlet conduit configured to enable water flow from the first surface to the second surface, a water outlet conduit configured to enable water flow from the second surface to the first surface and a first electric power conductor configured to enable electric power transmission from the first surface to the second surface.

Abstract: A combined space conditioning or heating and fluid heating system includes a main fluid conductor having an inlet and an outlet; a single heating source configured for producing low and high temperature fluid outputs of a fluid input received at the main fluid conductor inlet; a coil comprising an inlet and an outlet; and a supplementary fluid conductor comprising a fluid mover and a directional valve, an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the main fluid conductor is adapted for connection with the coil outlet. The high temperature fluid output is adapted for connection with the supplementary fluid conductor inlet, the supplementary fluid conductor outlet is adapted for connection with the coil inlet. The low temperature water output is adapted for connection with a fluid delivery point. The water coil inlet is adapted for connection with a raw fluid supply.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for saving energy by shutting down unnecessary equipment in a water heating system and setting back temperature setpoints to reduce energy losses. The present method is aimed at reducing energy wastage due to unnecessary external recirculation and overly high temperature setpoint for the external recirculation flow when no demands exist for an extended period of time.

Abstract: A combined water heating, space heating and space cooling system configured to provide hot water to a point of demand and heat or cool a space. The system comprises a heat pump operably connected to the space, a water flow loop including a main heat exchanger, a fluid mover for moving a fluid configured to flow within the flow loop, an air-to-water heat exchanger, a burner adapted to heat the fluid, a blower having an air inlet end and an air outlet end, wherein the blower is adapted to move air through the air-to-water heat exchanger and operably connected to the main heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger operably connecting the flow loop and the heat pump. The air-to-water heat exchanger is disposed on the air inlet end and the main heat exchanger is disposed on the air outlet end.

Abstract: A combined heat and power system comprising an electric power generator configured to receive gaseous fuel and output electricity at a voltage level to an electrical grid and hot exhaust, a heat exchanger comprising a water input line, a water output line and a heat exchanger coil connecting the water input line and the water output line, wherein the heat exchanger coil is thermally adapted to the hot exhaust and a blower configured for selectively drawing ambient air to be mixed with the hot exhaust, whereby when hot water is demanded, the blower is not enabled and when hot water is not demanded, the blower is turned on to draw ambient air that is mixed with the hot exhaust such that the temperature of the hot exhaust can be reduced.

Abstract: A weather forecast-based fluid heating control system having at least one hot fluid delivery point, the control system including a controller adapted to control a fluid supply to a setpoint temperature, a means for obtaining the forecasted air temperature at a future time of the location of the control system and a means for obtaining the current air temperature at a current time of the location of the control system. The setpoint temperature of the fluid supply is adjusted by an adjustment amount if the difference between the forecasted air temperature of the location of the control system and the current temperature at the current time of the location of the control system exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a helix coil incorporated into a stainless steel elongated variable diameter cylindrical housing and a radial direct-firing burner and a blower-driven hot flue gas to heat water. A buffer tank is incorporated within the lumen of the helix coil. At least one rope seal is disposed between adjacent coil loops of a portion of the helix coil for enhancing heat transfer to the helix coil. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger further comprises a Stirling engine comprised of a free piston having hot and cold ends that is disposed within the cavity taken up the buffer tank, wherein the hot end receives heat from the burner and the cold end is cooled by the incoming cold water line to form an electric power generator.

Abstract: A method of controlling a comfort device having at least one effector capable of meeting the demand of at least a user, the method includes establishing at least one zone in which at least one service of a comfort device is provided; associating the at least one effector of the comfort device with the least one zone; determining the presence of the at least one user in the at least one zone; and controlling the comfort device to meet the demand of the at least one user.

Abstract: An on demand tankless water heater system that is capable of quickly delivering water within a desired temperature range. The tankless water heater provides a hybrid heating method that contains a primary heating system and a secondary heating system disposed in a buffer tank that cooperate to facilitate control of output water temperature during water usage. A pressure differential switch detects low flow demand and allows the secondary heating system to provide immediate heating to the water. This secondary heating system provides a faster temperature response and fine tuning of output water temperature.

Abstract: A combined heating system comprising a first heating subsystem including a first fluid conductor, a first heating unit adapted to heat a first fluid and output the first fluid at the outlet of the first fluid conductor, and a fluid mover adapted to move the first fluid through the first heating unit, a second heating subsystem including a second fluid conductor adapted to receive a second fluid, a third fluid conductor, a second heating unit adapted to heat the second fluid and output the heated second fluid in the third fluid conductor, a fluid mover adapted to move the second fluid from the outlet of the third fluid conductor to the inlet of the second fluid conductor, at least one heat exchanger operably connected to a downstream location of the first heating unit and a fourth fluid conductor connecting the second fluid conductor and the third fluid conductor.

Abstract: A method for controlling the readiness of an appliance in a system having a mobile device capable of determining its current location, storing a previous location and storing a home location for a delivery point of the appliance, the method includes determining a location change event by comparing the current to previous location to result in a difference. If the mobile device is determined to be close to the home location and the difference magnitude is greater than a threshold, a first distance corresponding to the distance between the current and home location and a second distance corresponding to the distance between the previous and home location are computed. If the first distance is smaller than the second distance, the readiness of the appliance is enhanced. Otherwise, the readiness of the appliance is relaxed.

Abstract: A modular interface template configured to receive a plug and play comfort device, the modular interface template including a wall having a first surface and a second surface, an air inlet channel configured to enable air flow from the first surface to the second surface, an air outlet channel configured to enable air flow from the second surface to the first surface, a gas conduit configured to supply fuel from the first surface to the second surface, a water inlet conduit configured to enable water flow from the first surface to the second surface, a water outlet conduit configured to enable water flow from the second surface to the first surface and a first electric power conductor configured to enable electric power transmission from the first surface to the second surface.

Abstract: A multi-temperature output fluid heating system including an input for receiving a fluid supply, a single heating source, a first output, a second output and a bypass path. The first output is fluidly connected to the input, where the first output is adapted for control by a first control device and to receive heat from the single heating source to achieve a first temperature at the first output. The bypass path fluidly connects the input and the second output. The input is adapted to empty a first portion of the fluid supply into the first output and a second portion of the input into the bypass path. The second output is adapted to receive an output from the first output and an output from the bypass path to achieve a second temperature.

Abstract: A high turn-down burner adapted to receive a fuel flow for combustion. The burner includes a housing having a side wall with an interior surface forming an inner periphery, a bottom wall adjoining the side wall, a top wall adjoining the side wall and a plurality of apertures disposed on the side wall; a supply tube adapted through the top wall of the housing, the supply tube including a side wall having an outer surface forming an outer periphery, a top end, a bottom end, wherein the supply tube is adapted to receive the fuel flow at the top end of the supply tube; and a disk having an opening adapted to accommodate the supply tube, wherein the disk is configured to slide along a length of the supply tube within the space delineated by the inner periphery of the housing and the outer periphery of the supply tube.

Abstract: A water heating control system for automatically reducing delay in delivering a volume of water at a flowrate, the volume of water is heated from a first temperature to a target temperature during a time interval of a day, the water heating system includes a device for aiding in heating the volume of water from the first temperature to the target temperature, a historical flow demand corresponding to the time interval of a day, a current flow demand corresponding to the time interval of a day and a controller configured for calculating a new flow demand from the historical flow demand and the current flow demand. The new flow demand is set as the historical flow demand for the time interval of a day and if the new flow demand exceeds a threshold, the device is configured to be activated during the time interval of a day.

Abstract: An on demand tankless water heater system that is capable of quickly delivering water within a desired temperature range. The tankless water heater provides a hybrid heating method that contains a primary heating system and a secondary heating system disposed in a buffer tank that cooperate to facilitate control of output water temperature during water usage. A pressure differential switch detects low flow demand and allows the secondary heating system to provide immediate heating to the water. This secondary heating system provides a faster temperature response and fine tuning of output water temperature.