Abstract: An apparatus for cooking an article is provided including a cooking chamber, a heating means for producing heated gases for introduction into said chamber for convective heating without microwave interference, and a source of microwaves for heating with microwave energy. At least one freely rotating stirring means is positioned in gas and microwave communication with the heating chamber, and is caused to rotate from a flow of the heated gases. The stirring means serves to distribute both microwave energy and the heated gases about the chamber for uniform, simultaneous convection and microwave heating. A pilotless gas source is provided which includes an initiation chamber within a combustion chamber. The initiation chamber is positioned by a microwave opaque material and includes a flame sensor which eliminates the flow of gas in the combustion chamber when no flame is present.

Abstract: This invention presents an NO.sub.x environment effective reduction apparatus comprising a sulfur tolerant coronal-catalyst such as high dielectric coronal-catalysts like glass wool, ceramic-glass wool or zirconium glass wool and method of use. In one embodiment the invention comprises an NO.sub.x reduction apparatus of sulfur tolerant coronal-catalyst adapted and configured for hypercritical presentation to an NO.sub.x bearing gas stream at a minimum of at least about 75 watts/cubic meter.

Abstract: A compact cogeneration system in which a catalytic converter is positioned within otherwise unused space in an exhaust gas heat exchanger employed to heat water. Exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine of a packaged cogeneration system are directed through a single- or two-stage catalytic converter in a central cylindrical housing of the heat exchanger, then are diverted to pass in counterflow over a water-containing coil in an annulus surrounding the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gas-fired oven for heating food by steam and/or dry convection. The oven has a heating chamber; an atomizer for producing an atomized water spray; a source of a combustible gas mixture; and a burner-heat exchanger. The gas fired burner-heat exchanger receives and combusts the mixture and isolates hot combustion gases from the heating chamber so pure steam is furnished to the heating chamber. The heat exchanger receives hot combustion gases, and vaporizes atomized spray circulated over its external surface to produce steam for heating an article in the heating chamber. The amount of steam in the heating chamber is measured and controlled by monitoring a temperature in a drain.

Abstract: Infrared (IR) strip heaters are juxtaposed with convection heaters for simultaneous, independently controlled, combined radiant/convective heating in a conveyor oven. Apertured plates with portions transmissive to IR radiation are interposed between a lower combined heating unit and the cooking path. The IR heaters are preferably gas burners with porous, ceramic or metallic elements, the burners on opposite sides of the cooking path being independently controllable to vary the heat transfer rate to opposite food surfaces. Symmetrical placement of the IR heaters in opposed pairs facilitates use of the conveyor oven as a half oven. An auxiliary burner exhausts directly into the convection air and is cycled on and off to maintain a set temperature during normal operation.

Abstract: A liquid-fueled thermoelectric field burner operable in two modes, a start-up mode and a steady-state mode. A rechargeable battery backed up by a manually operated generator permits cold start-up of a preheat burner followed by operation of a main burner which provides heat to thermoelectric converters which operate to provide necessary power for steady-state operation. Cold start-up is facilitated by atomizing the liquid fuel for combustion in the preheat burner, and steady-state blue flame operation is enhanced by mixing vaporized fuel and preheated air for combustion in a main burner. The thermoelectric converters are cooled by air from a cooling blower.