Abstract: A means of detecting the in-situ fuel-to-air-ratio (FAR) in a combustor or flame zone using a Fourier-based flame ionization probe is presented. The use of multiple excitation frequencies and its detection at certain frequencies or combinations of harmonics of those excitation frequencies, namely, the inter-modulation distortion, provides a novel means of extracting a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) FAR measurement in a combustor.

Abstract: A guide system including a top end, a bottom end, a lumen and a plurality of openings, the system is disposed within a coil lumen at the bottom end of the heat exchanger coil with the bottom end of the system extending beyond the bottom end of the coil in a direction from the top end to the bottom end of the coil, the system configured in a shape of the coil lumen and the openings are disposed on the bottom end of the system, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to channel the flue flow from a burner through a path to heat a fluid flow of the coil before entering the lumen of the system via the openings to avoid a pressure drop due to a tendency for the flue flow to follow a path defined by a shape of the bottom end of the coil.

Abstract: A condensate neutralizer system for treating condensate of a condensate generating device, the condensate neutralizer system including a container having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet is configured to receive condensate from the condensate generating device, the container is configured to contain a condensate neutralizing material useful for treating the condensate and the outlet is configured to drain condensate treated with the condensate neutralizing material; a controller; and a pH meter functionally connected to said controller, the pH meter is configured to take pH measurements of the treated condensate, the measurements are configured to be compared to a fault pattern, wherein the fault pattern is defined by a condition where the pH measurements are lower than a pre-determined pH level and if a fault is determined to exist, a warning is raised or a delivery of replenishment of the condensate neutralizing material is initiated.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including more than one fluid conductor, each of the fluid conductors is configured to receive a distinct flow of fluid and heat from only one heat source, wherein the coils are configured to be interleaved to form a structure of a single-sized lumen in which the heat source is disposed.

Abstract: A condensate neutralizer system for treating condensate of a condensate generating device, the condensate neutralizer system including a container having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet is configured to receive condensate from the condensate generating device, the container is configured to contain a condensate neutralizing material useful for treating the condensate and the outlet is configured to drain condensate treated with the condensate neutralizing material; a controller; and a pH meter functionally connected to said controller, the pH meter is configured to take pH measurements of the treated condensate, the measurements are configured to be compared to a fault pattern, wherein the fault pattern is defined by a condition where the pH measurements are lower than a pre-determined pH level and if a fault is determined to exist, a warning is raised or a delivery of replenishment of the condensate neutralizing material is initiated.

Abstract: A condensate neutralizer device for treating a condensate flow, the condensate neutralizer device includes a compartment adapted to receive condensate neutralizing materials therein, the compartment having an inlet end and an outlet end, a plurality of apertures disposed only on a bottom surface of each of the inlet end and the outlet end of the compartment. The compartment is configured to receive the condensate flow traversing upwardly through the plurality of apertures at the inlet end in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end through the condensate neutralizing materials before allowing a treated flow of the condensate flow to traverse downwardly through the plurality of apertures at the outlet end to exit the compartment as an effluent.

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 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 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 including an outer housing including a central axis, a side wall having a top edge and a bottom edge, a plurality of apertures disposed on the side wall, a top wall adjoining the side wall at the top edge and a bottom wall adjoining the side wall at the bottom edge; an inner housing including a central axis, a side wall, a plurality of apertures disposed on the side wall, the inner housing is coaxially rotatable with respect to the outer housing; and an actuator adapted to harness and convert the power exerted by the fuel flow to a movement of the inner housing with respect to the outer housing, wherein the alignment of the apertures of the inner and outer housings is adapted to modify an effective combustion area of the burner.

Abstract: A combined hot water and air heating and conditioning system including a first heat exchanger, a heat pump, a chilling tower loop, a burner and a second heat exchanger to provide hot water, air heating and air cooling. The system provides hot water, air heating and cooling all in one single unit. The system utilizes a heat pump to remove heat from ambient air and transfer the rejected heat into a hot water system, thereby using waste heat to heat the hot water system. The system utilizes a heat exchanger not only for the purpose of transferring heat from a heating source to a fluid in the heat exchanger but also for the purpose of dissipating heat from the fluid in the heat exchanger to the surroundings of the heat exchanger, thereby allowing a heat pump to act both as an air heating and conditioning device.

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: 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 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: 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, and 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.