Abstract: A steam generator for generating steam by boiling water, or other hot water heating device, in either case such as for use in a steam cooker or warewasher, includes a tank structure providing a heating chamber for holding water, and at least one heating element associated with the tank structure for heating water. The tank structure includes a main body wall having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile formed by opposed first and second side wall portions of the heating chamber and a curved bottom wall portion of the heating chamber, wherein the curved bottom wall portion is monolithic with the first and second side wall portions, wherein the main body wall is sheet metal material that has been curved.

Abstract: An air pressure regulating device comprises an expansion tank having air stored therein and having an air injection/discharge port at an outside thereof; and a pressure regulation unit provided with a three-way ball valve connected to the air injection/discharge port, a pressure gauge which is installed in any one of flow paths of the three-way ball valve to check an internal pressure of the expansion tank, and a valve core which is installed in a flow path other than the flow path in which the pressure gauge is installed to be capable of injecting or discharging air into or from the expansion tank so as to be capable of controlling the internal pressure of the expansion tank.

Abstract: A method for managing thermal energy of a vehicle having a battery and an electric propulsion system is provided. The system monitors a current battery temperature, after the vehicle is connected to an outside power source at a plug time, and determines an outside air temperature. The system predicts a cabin heating temperature for a subsequent drive cycle. The subsequent drive cycle occurs when the vehicle is no longer connected to the outside power source. If the predicted cabin heating temperature is greater than the outside air temperature, the system heats the battery to a thermal storage temperature that is greater than a target operating temperature of the battery. Therefore, thermal energy is stored within the battery, and may be transferred to heat the cabin.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an insulated cooking chamber positioned within a cabinet and an air plenum defined between the cabinet and the insulated cooking chamber. A fan assembly includes a first fan and a second fan positioned adjacent each other and having a void region immediately downstream of their outlets. The fan housings may be positioned in direct contact with each other such that the flows of cooling air exiting each fan interact with each other to reduce or eliminate expansion losses. Alternatively, the fan housings may be separated by a small airgap to reduce expansion losses while entraining additional cooling air.

Abstract: A horizontal direction drill rig heating system for efficiently keeping the drill carriage frame and other major components that are crucial for the drilling process free of snow and ice buildup during freezing conditions. The horizontal directional drill rig heating system includes a horizontal directional drill rig manufactured from structural tubing, a working fluid reservoir, a pump, an inverter, a heater, on/off valves, hoses, and multiple heating circuits on the horizontal directional drill rig to heat the entire horizontal directional drill rig during freezing conditions.

Abstract: A lower housing has a fuel grate situated at a predetermined level within the lower housing for supporting a fuel source. The lower housing has a first wall defining a plurality of air intake openings proximate the level of the fuel grate.

Abstract: A membrane system includes a base membrane and a cover membrane. The base membrane is configured to be installed between a subfloor and floor tiles to allow movement of the floor tiles relative to the subfloor. The base membrane includes a base layer and studs projecting from the base layer. The studs are configured to hold a heating cable in place when the heating cable is positioned between adjacent ones of the studs. The studs have free ends that define pockets therein. The cover membrane is configured to be coupled to the base membrane to encapsulate the heating cable between the base membrane and the cover membrane. The cover membrane includes a cover layer and studs projecting from the cover layer. The studs on the cover membrane are configured to fit within the pockets in the base membrane to couple the cover membrane to the base membrane.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes a use-side heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between a heat medium flowing from a heat-storage heat exchanger and a heat usage medium, and a flow-passage switching device that switches a flow passage for the heat medium to a first flow passage that circulates through a heat-reception-side heat exchanger and the heat-storage heat exchanger without extends through the use-side heat exchanger or a second flow passage that circulates through the heat-reception-side heat exchanger and the heat-storage heat exchanger via the use-side heat exchanger. Even when the temperature of the heat storage medium rises, heat received from a heat source can be stored in the heat storage medium by a heat pump, while a decrease of the efficiency of the heat pump can be reduced.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a burner configured to burn a combustible gas to produce heat, a heat exchanger configured to receive the heat from the burner, a flow sensor configured to measure a flow rate of a coolant passing through the heat exchanger; and a controller comprising processing circuitry. The processing circuitry receives flow data from the flow sensor and controls a firing rate of the burner based on a predetermined relationship between a differential temperature of coolant flowing through the heat exchanger and the coolant's flow rate.

Abstract: A grilling device includes an oven section having an outer wall with opposing side portions and an encircling body portion extending therebetween. The body portion has an access opening and the grilling device includes a lid that selectively covers the access opening by means of a handle attached thereto. The grilling device also includes opposing hinge elements connected to opposite sides of the lid and to the side portions of the outer wall, as opposed to the encircling body portion. In particular, the hinge elements are connected to respective rear areas of the side portions. Accordingly, the path of opening the lid has a different shape or curvature and thereby positions the handle substantially lower than if the hinge elements were connected to the body portion adjacent to the access opening. The opposing side portions have a substantially oval shape and the hinge elements have an elongated configuration.

Abstract: Burner assemblies of flame-based detectors are configured to deliver decompressed mobile phase of supercritical fluid chromatography systems to the flame of a flame-based detector while providing for improved optimization of analyte response as well as enhanced flame stability during operation.

Abstract: Building heating and/or cooling methods of the present disclosure can include continuously distributing fluid from within conduits within a concrete floor of a building to conduits within grounds surrounding and/or supporting the building.

Abstract: A self-assembly hot water mat capable of extending through an assembly, the self-assembly hot water mat capable of being assembled with other self-assembly hot water mats, having four sides, and including a path for circulating hot water includes a plurality of hot water passages formed in the self-assembly hot water mat to provide a plurality of hot water flow paths, an inlet formed at each of the four sides, through which hot water flows in, and an outlet formed at each of the four sides and paired with the inlet, through which hot water flows out.

Abstract: A floor support includes a base having a bottom surface and a top surface; a plurality of bosses arranged in an ordered array on the base, the ordered array configured to provide multiple options for routing an electric heating cable among the plurality of bosses; and a thermal insulation layer adjacent the bottom surface. Each of the plurality of bosses includes an upper surface; a perimeter wall extending from the upper surface to the top surface, the perimeter wall sloping underneath the upper surface; and an interior wall sloping continuously toward an interior of the boss as the interior wall as the interior wall extends from the upper surface to the top surface.

Abstract: An energy exchange system employing a hot water loop, a chilled water loop, an energy exchanger, a boiler plant for heating water flowing through the hot water loop and for heating water flowing through the chilled water loop via the energy exchanger, a chiller plant for chilling the water flowing through the chilled water loop and for chilling the water flowing through the hot water loop via the energy exchanger, and a control for calculating a hot energy load for operating the at least one boiler to heat the water flowing through the hot water loop and for heating the water flowing through the chilled water loop via the energy exchanger, and for calculating a chilled water energy load for operating the at least one chiller to chill the water flowing through the chilled water loop and for chilling the water flowing through the hot water loop via the energy exchanger.

Abstract: A toxic waste incinerator is capable of enhanced combustion of hazardous waste (oil contaminated sand, human waste, garbage, etc.) utilizing immersed non-combustible and thermally conductive objects for increasing heat feedback from the flames to the unburned fuel, while air inlets are used to optimize the air entrainment rate to enhance the burning efficiency. The burning rate of a fluidic mass such as a sand-oil mixture is enhanced using immersed conductive objects (copper rods) which enable rapid heat-up of the flame exposed to the upper surface of the rod and transmits heat back into the sand. Consequent conduction of heat to the porous media through the lower portion of the immersed rod significantly increases vaporization and therefore the burning rate. Incineration may be performed on a transient, exigent basis as with hazardous waste and oil spills, or as part of a permanent fixture for receiving an ongoing waste stream.

Abstract: Sparkless igniters comprising a hot surface igniter assembly and a nozzle that produce a flame plume with diameter substantially similar to the diameter of the fire tube, and flame length less than the length of each leg of the U-shaped fire tube in heater treaters are applicable to both vertical and horizontal heater treaters and improve the durability of fire tubes while reducing igniter fuel consumption by at least 30%.

Abstract: A meat smoker/cooker device is provided and includes a fuel chamber having a fuel chamber structure which includes a fuel chamber sidewall that defines a fuel chamber cavity, wherein the fuel chamber sidewall includes a first mounting hole, a second mounting hole and a sidewall slot communicated with the chamber cavity. Additionally, the meat smoker device also includes a fuel container having a container rim and being located within the chamber cavity proximate the slot bottom and an ignition article having an ignition article handle, an ignition article mounting structure and a heating element, wherein the ignition article handle includes a handle portion movably located within the sidewall slot and wherein the ignition article mounting structure is configured to mountingly engage with the first and second mounting hole, such that the ignition article is configurable between a first and second configuration.

Abstract: A user interface for a thermostat that controls a radiator valve can include a user input member that is movable from a home position to a set point increase or decrease position to increase or decrease a set point temperature of the thermostat. In some embodiments, a return mechanism returns the user input member to the home position after being released from one of the set point increase and decrease positions. The user interface can include an indicator panel and controller that controls the indicator panel to provide an indication of when the set point temperature of the thermostat is being adjusted. The user interface can also include a lockout controller that prevents further set point temperature adjustments using the user interface when the set point temperature differs from the environmental temperature by a specified amount.

Abstract: A hydraulic system includes at least one pump assembly and a switching device which includes at least two switch positions. The switching device is configured such that on operation of the pump assembly in a first operating condition, the switching device is held in a stable manner in each of the at least two switch positions in each case by the hydraulic forces in the system. In a second operating condition of the pump assembly, the switching device is moved from a first switch position into a second switch position, assisted by switching energy stored in the first operating condition. The hydraulic system is configured such that in the first operating condition, the switching energy is stored independently of a switching-over of the switching device between the switch positions. A method is provided for operating such a hydraulic system.