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 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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.

Abstract: A vent hood kit comprises a canopy assembly having an intake end and an outlet end, a blower housing selectively and alternatively coupled with the exhaust end of the canopy assembly in an in-line position and an external position, a blower assembly disposed within a blower housing and in communication with the intake end in both the in-line and external positions and an exhaust duct adapter of the blower housing is configured to be in communication with the intake end in both the in-line and external positions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device that includes a reflecting surface having a length aligned along a first axis (z), where a cross-section of the reflecting surface in a plane perpendicular to the first axis (z) forms a curve comprising a concave section positioned between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, at least a portion of the concave section is accurately approximated by a polynomial equation, an aperture is formed by a straight line connecting the first endpoint to the second endpoint, and the concave section is configured to focus a plurality of beams of light passing through the aperture onto a focal point.

Abstract: An oven used for heating and barbecuing comprising an oven body; an isolation plate disposed in the oven body; the isolation plate divides the inner chamber of the oven body into an upper portion and a lower portion; the center of the isolation plate is provided with a ventilation opening; a fire-pan disposed in the inner chamber of the oven body above the isolation plate; a lifting mechanism for propelling the fire-pan to move up and down.

Abstract: A crankcase heating control system for a heat pump system includes a data receiving module and a power control module. The data receiving module is configured to receive: data indicative of a temperature of a compressor of the heat pump system; and data indicative of an ambient temperature. The power control module is configured to: selectively apply power to a heater of a crankcase of the compressor; and disable the heater when all of: a period since the compressor was last turned is greater than a predetermined period; the ambient temperature is less than a predetermined temperature; and the temperature of the compressor is less than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reactor, a reheater for forming a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater. The inorganic particle cooler comprises a shell portion and a tube portion. The inorganic particle cooler is configured such that the shell portion receives a portion of the heated inorganic particles and the tube portion receives a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the portion of the heated inorganic particles to form partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.