Abstract: A composite storage tank module, tank, and arrangement wherein a composite storage tank module comprises at least one hollow section adapted to house a medium. The storage tank module is an elongated self-supporting structure produced from a composite material constituted of at least a first and second material. The composite storage tank module and arrangement are adapted to be embedded in a building structure, preferably a double flooring or a wall.

Abstract: A gas lighter valve assembly that can be fitted easily and tightly into a gas lighter body or a well as a free-floating entity not fixed to the gas lighter body or well. The valve assemblies integration as a free floating entity within the lighter body or well avoids the necessity of an interference fit. To avoid the necessity of an interference fit, valve assembly positioning and stability is achieved by the use of an o-ring which is compressed by downward force exerted by a pressing cover upon a bushing or directly upon the o-ring. By eliminating the stress and friction typically caused by an interference fit, the lighter body and reservoir can be made from a variety of materials including non-crystalline resins.

Abstract: A locally powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include an igniter, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device that produces an electrical signal having power when exposed to a flame, and a local power source for providing power when the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device is not exposed to a flame. In some cases, the intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a memory for storing information about an ignition sequence for igniting a pilot flame, and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller may be configured to initiate the ignition sequence of the pilot flame using information stored in the memory, determine whether the ignition was successful by monitoring the electrical signal produced by the thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, and adjust the information stored in the memory based on whether the ignition sequence completed successfully.

Abstract: A damper system comprises a damper slide adapted to couple to a wall with a first outlet. In one embodiment, the damper slide has a first opening and is adapted to operate in a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first opening is at least partially aligned with the first outlet. The first opening and the first outlet are at least partially offset in the second position.

Abstract: The solar heating apparatus includes at least one optical element and a drive assembly for selectively moving the at least one optical element along multiple axes of rotation, the drive assembly having an elevation shaft and an azimuth rotation shaft. The solar heating apparatus also includes a support frame positioned in communicating relation with the drive assembly, the support frame being configured for supporting the at least one optical element. The support frame includes a main shaft, at least one branch holder pivotally attached to an end of the main shaft, the at least one branch holder being adapted for supporting the at least one optical element, and at least one belt drive for pivoting the at least one branch holder, the at least one belt drive being actuated by the elevation shaft.

Abstract: A transonic two-phase reaction turbine for use with low and high temperature fluid flow mediums includes at least two wheels that are configured to rotate in opposite directions, at least one of the at least two wheels being equipped with one or multiple kinetic energy harvesters.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for distributing gas for oxy-fuel combustion on a circulating fluidized bed. In the method, the gas is provided by three stages into a furnace of the circulating fluidized bed. The method includes: blowing in a first-stage gas containing oxygen and recycled flue gas from the bottom of the furnace; blowing in a second-stage gas containing recycled flue gas from a transition zone between a dense-phase zone and a dilute-phase zone of the furnace; and blowing in a third-stage gas containing oxygen from a side wall of the furnace.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods for cleaning up or burning spills of burnable materials in situ. In some embodiments, a system for burning a burnable material comprises a base having a first side configured for placement on a surface with a burnable material and a second side; and a plurality heat conducting members extending from the second side of the base.

Abstract: To improve the efficiency of recuperator burners, preferably to over 80%, a recuperator burner (10) is equipped with an auxiliary heat exchanger (26) which surrounds the recuperator (22), wherein both the recuperator and the auxiliary heat exchanger are preferably formed as purely counterdirectional-flow heat exchangers, wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger (26) has the air supplied to it on the side facing toward the furnace wall (11). The housing (15) around the auxiliary heat exchanger (26) can be cooled with cool air from the inside. In one configuration, the air is initially conducted to a flange cooler (45) to protect the region of the flange (16) against the exhaust-gas temperature. For example, the ceramic recuperator pipe (26) is resiliently pressed, and sealed off, against an outlet-side surface (35) of the auxiliary heat exchanger (26), which preferably has gap-like air ducts (39) formed in flattened pipes (40).

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring and controlling combustion in a burner of a fuel gas apparatus, having a sensor with an electrode able to be supplied by a voltage generator and connected to an electronic circuit for measuring the resultant potential. The method includes acquiring and processing data from experimental conditions and a second phase of evaluating the desired combustion characteristic, under an actual operating condition of the burner. A plurality of experimental combustion conditions for the burner are preselected, applying to the burner, in each condition, a power and a further significant parameter of the combustion characteristics, under each of the experimental conditions applying an electrical voltage signal to said electrode and carrying out a sampling of the response signal, calculating, based on the sequence of sampled values, the characteristic parameters of the waveform of the signal for each of the experimental conditions.

Abstract: A heater system for preheating a vehicle and method of operating the same, wherein the method of operation is dependent upon the temperature of the coolant fluid in the vehicle coolant system.

Abstract: A fan heater for heating using exhaust waste heat, including: a natural exhaust tube discharging some exhaust gas from a water heater; a forced exhaust tube connected to the natural exhaust tube in a parallel structure, the remaining exhaust gas, excluding naturally discharged exhaust gas, flowing into the forced exhaust tube; a heat exchange device on the upper portion of the forced exhaust tube and supplied with high-temperature exhaust gas; a forced exhaust blower installed on the heat exchange device to draw exhaust gas from the forced exhaust tube and discharge it; a main unit having the heat exchange device embedded therein and having a circulation unit such that low-temperature indoor air circulates into the heat exchange device; a warm-air circulation blower supplying the indoor air towards the outer air circulation unit and circulating the low-temperature indoor air so the exhaust gas exchanges heat; and a control unit.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a vehicle HVAC system includes: a housing that defines at least first and second air conduits to a vehicle interior compartment; and at least first and second heat rods that each traverses the first and second air conduits, wherein a first positive temperature coefficient along a length of the first heat rod is greater at the first air conduit than at the second air conduit, and wherein a second positive temperature coefficient along a length of the second heat rod is greater at the second air conduit than at the first air conduit.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for an electrically-powered vehicle (EV) having an electric motor powered by at least one battery is described. The HVAC system may comprise a blower, a conduit configured to carry air from the blower to vents leading to a passenger cabin of the EV, and an electric heater positioned in the conduit and configured to heat the air. The HVAC system may further comprise a thermal reservoir heater positioned in the conduit and including a thermal storage component configured to heat the air without using power from the battery.

Abstract: An igniter apparatus is provided, comprising a heat precursor source having a heat precursor; a heating arrangement configured to, on demand, receive the heat precursor from the heat precursor source and to emit heat associated with the heat precursor and capable of igniting an ignitable article; and a sensory precursor source having a sensory precursor substance, wherein the sensory precursor substance is configured to provide a perceptible sensory effect, and wherein the sensory precursor source is in communication with the heating arrangement and is configured to release the sensory precursor substance in association with the heat emitted by the heating arrangement. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A firebox assembly for generating smoke and conveying controlled amounts of smoke and air for a kamado oven. A firebox assembly has a door leading to a fire chamber, in turn, having an exit opening for smoke to flow into a smoke chamber. A chimney connected to the smoke chamber has slide gates to control the flow of smoke from the smoke chamber into the kamado oven. Further, the gates allow the smoke to be exhausted to the atmosphere and further allow atmospheric air to enter into the chimney eventually flowing to the kamado oven.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of exchange tubes (1) mounted joined longitudinally in such a way as to create a front surface portion (4) creating an obstacle to an incident heat flow and at least one heat flow sensor (5) disposed in a support (12) located between two adjacent exchange tubes (1), characterized in that the support (12) of the heat flow sensor (5) is brazed to at least one of the two tubes (1) and is flattened on the side that is to be disposed at the front (4), with reference to the incident heat flow, in such a way as to be able to be inserted between the two adjacent tubes (1) at the location of said local deformations (11).

Abstract: In some implementations, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include a first steam engine, an intermediate storage, and a second steam engine. The first steam engine may include a first inlet and a first exhaust, wherein the first inlet receives steam from a source of thermal energy. The intermediate storage may be coupled to the first exhaust, wherein the intermediate storage stores thermal energy provided by steam from the first exhaust. The second steam engine may include a second inlet coupled to the intermediate storage. Moreover, at least one of the first steam engine and the second steam engine may produce work. Furthermore, the first steam engine may be driven by the steam received from the source of thermal energy, and the second steam engine may be driven by steam from at least one of the intermediate storage and the first exhaust. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: The birthday parties are part of happy occasions and commonly a cake is utilized with numbers of candles on its top for being burned and blown out by the birth day person. However, some guests consider that in this process multiple numbers of microscopic units of saliva and mouth contents are also blown to the cake and do not like eating pieces of such cakes. Thus in this invention introduces a cover for the cakes which is impermeable and non inflammable, and has a series of cradles that will hold candles in sturdy fashion for being blown away without falling and even if they fall or at the end of their burning they would not be able to cause fire. Thus allowing eliminating the problem mentioned.

Abstract: A combination fence and solar heater. The fence for enclosing a swimming pool and heating water from the swimming pool in order to provide more comfortable swimming conditions and a longer swimming season. The fence includes posts, upper and lower rails, and pickets. The rails include first and second conduits, each having a passageway for carrying water being circulated in communication with the swimming pool. The first conduit has an exterior surface that is exposed to the sun; absorbing solar energy which heats the stream of water therein. The second conduit is nested within the first conduit and absorbs a portion of the energy absorbed by the first conduit. Often, water temperatures within the first and second conduits differ from each other, allowing for discharge of heated water over a range of temperatures to the swimming pool.