Abstract: A fluid heating system intended for use in recreational vehicles that circulates glycol in a system loop with various heat sources and other devices that distribute this heat to an enclosure or a domestic water system. It has a system controller operationally connected to a remove tactile display unit that allows for the input of the operation parameters to the system controller. The control unit is operatively connected for data and signal transfer to the user's cell phone via a non-internet connected localized wi-fi network. This provides the user with system status information, fault codes and allows selected operational functions and resets to be remotely initiated that heretofore required local manipulation. It also incorporates altimeter to allow the furnace controller to maximize its burn efficiency.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop and a burner mounted on the cooktop. At least one coupling member is coupled to the cooktop. A grate, a griddle, or a reversible griddle is selectively coupled to the at least one coupling member and is operable between a raised position and a lowered position when the grate, the griddle, or the reversible griddle, is engaged with the coupling member.

Abstract: A central plant includes a plurality of subplants including a chiller configured to output supply water at a supply water temperature, a sensor configured obtain a measurement of the supply water temperature, and a control system. The control system is configured to calculate an additional load factor based on the measurement of the supply water temperature and a supply water temperature setpoint, obtain an actual load for the chiller, calculate an effective load based on the additional load factor and the actual load, generate load allocations for the plurality of subplants based on the effective load, and control the plurality of subplants to operate in accordance with the load allocations.

Abstract: A flame hole unit structure of a combustion apparatus provided with a plurality of flame holes for forming a flame comprises: a lean flame hole unit including, as a flame hole for jetting lean gas, at least one lean flame hole extending along the longitudinal direction which is a direction perpendicular to the jetting direction of the lean gas; and a rich flame hole unit including, as a flame hole for jetting rich gas, a pair of rich flame hole provided on both sides of the lean flame hole unit with respect to a width direction which is a direction perpendicular to the jetting direction and the longitudinal direction and extending along a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A device includes a support structure having a plurality of concentric cuts through the support structure that define a set of structure sections. The device also includes an insert assembly supported by the support structure at an inner structure section of the set of structure sections. The inner structure section is configured to tilt the insert assembly at a tilt angle in accordance with a displacement of a first outer structure section of the set of structure sections.

Abstract: A concentrated solar power generation system includes a movable platform having a groove, a Fresnel lens located in the groove of the movable platform, a header located below the Fresnel lens, a plurality of heat collection tubes arranged in a circular array, a reflector with a tapered surface, and a support base. The header has a water circulation pipe, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe each are communicated to the water circulation pipe. A lower end of each of the heat collection tubes is fixed on the support seat, and an upper end of each of the heat collection tubes contacts the water circulation pipe. The reflector is mounted on the support base and located in a space enclosed by the heat collection tubes.

Abstract: A burner base for a stacked burner assembly to secure a uniform distribution of gas flow. The burner base couples with a top burner cover and together define an internal gas mixture chamber. The burner base includes a barrier structure along a perimeter having a plurality of structural zones. A first structural zone includes a semi-circular barrier structure having a height that is taller at a middle portion than at the end portions. A second structural zone includes an arc structure having a height that is taller than the heights of adjacent structural zone heights. A third structural zone includes a semi-circular structure having a consistent height along the structure. A fourth structural zone includes a non-raised semi-circular structure. The barrier structure is configured to facilitate the distribution of the gas within the mixture chamber.

Abstract: A door-locking device for a self-cleaning oven includes a support configured to be fixed to a frame of the oven. A main slider is movable relative to the support along a longitudinal rectilinear direction, and is configured to be pushed elastically towards an extracted position and pushed by the door of the oven towards a retracted position. A locking arm is coupled to the support around an articulation axis perpendicular to the longitudinal rectilinear direction and oscillates around the articulation axis between an unlocked position and a locked position. A transmission mechanism connects the locking arm to the main slider and is arranged to swing the locking arm from the unlocked position to the locked position and vice versa via movement of the main slider from the extracted position to the retracted position, and vice versa. An electromagnetic switch includes an electromagnet that drives a movable member associated with a locking pin arranged to lock the main slider in the retracted position.

Abstract: A heater apparatus configured to provide heat to at least one component of a spacecraft. The heater apparatus comprises a combustion chamber for a hypergolic propellant, and a heat radiator configured to radiate heat from the combustion chamber towards the at least one component to be heated. A spacecraft comprises at least one component to be heated and a heater apparatus configured to heat the at least one component to be heated. A method for heating at least one component of a spacecraft. The method comprises generating heat in a combustion chamber for a hypergolic propellant, and radiating at least a portion of the heat towards the at least one component.

Abstract: Various implementations include solar thermal energy collection system comprising a solar energy concentrator, a heat transfer fluid, an absorber pipe. The absorber pipe includes a pipe wall and has a central longitudinal axis. The pipe wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface has a first contour defining alternating peaks and troughs along a length of the absorber pipe. The outer surface has a second contour defining alternating peaks and troughs along the length of the absorber pipe. The inner surface defines the entire flow path for the heat transfer fluid through the absorber pipe. The first contour, as viewed through an axial cross section of the absorber pipe, forms sinusoidal waves on each side of and spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis. The sinusoidal waves on each side of the central longitudinal axis are symmetrical with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An air heating apparatus may be mounted on a common base and define a pair of air flow paths. The air heating apparatus may include a housing forming an outer envelope through which the air flow paths extend, with the air flow path being separate from each other at all locations in the interior of the outer envelope. The interior of the housing may be divided into two subhousings defining two separate subchambers. The housing may have inlet and outlet openings extending through the outer envelope for each of the air flow paths of the subchambers. At least two air heating assemblies may each be configured to heat air moving along a separate one of the air flow paths, the air heating assemblies being positioned in the interior of the housing with each of the air heating assemblies being positioned in a respective one of the subchambers of the subhousings.

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: The invention provides a system for energy distribution that uses liquid carbon dioxide as a working fluid. Evaporation of the carbon dioxide provides cooling, and compression of the carbon dioxide gas back to the liquid state provides heat. The amount of heat transferred at both stages is sufficient to provide environmental heating and cooling. Waste thermal energy from a power plant, in the form of hot water, is fed into the system and used to drive the overall process. An underground thermal energy storage system is used to store energy flowing into the system that is in excess of the current demand.

Abstract: A solar barbeque and solar oven combination that provides for solar cooking, grill-style or oven-style, outdoors. The grill portion sits on top and has a glass cooking surface. Beneath the cooking surface are a series of louvers that can be open and closed to control temperature. A volume of space below the louvers has mirrored surfaces for the collection of solar energy. A side table is foldable and attached to the grill portion for additional mirrored surfaces and grilling surface area. Below the grill is a solar oven being enclosed on three sides and having doors in the front made of glass that are openable with wooden handles. Inside of the solar oven are mirrored surfaces and a grill/ surface for cooking. On the bottom of the interior of the oven is a heat capturing and/or storing device such as a heating stone or metal heat battery. The entire apparatus includes support legs with wheels and a handle for easy transport.

Abstract: A novel method is described for water heating using stored solar heat. Solar heat is stored in an insulated tank by using scrap and inexpensive heat absorbing or heat storing materials. Stored solar heat can then be used to heat water in a storage tank by extracting the solar heat using an antifreeze liquid which in turn heat cold water in the water tank. Water temperature in the storage tank is controlled by a thermostat. When the water temperature drops below the set point on the thermostat, a circulating pump turns on and pump the cold water until it reaches the desired set temperature. Once it reaches the set point in the thermostat, the water circulation pump turns off.

Abstract: A portable solar collection apparatus and system describes an apparatus and system having a solar collector apparatus having a glaze and photovoltaic panel operatively coupled to a rectifier operatively coupled to a 12-volt battery and a circulation pump, the battery is operatively coupled to an inverter. The system and apparatus includes an insulator having a cold water compartment, a luke warm water compartment, and a hot water compartment. A circulation pump moves water through the rectifier and into the hot water compartment. A mixed temperature outlet receives some of the hot water mixed with cold for discharge. The outlet may be coupled to a shower head and/or stand for discharging water.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus which can heat water using a Fresnel lens or magnifying glass to focus and concentrate sunlight on water-filled radiator-like tubes which move water, by the water pressure from a water spigot/bib (without pumping), to: 1. move the heated water through tubes to heat any space inside any building, and 2. provide steam to power a steam-powered electricity generator to provide electricity, and charge a battery, during daylight hours, and then use the charged battery to supply electricity during the night hours, and 3. move water, cooled by the subsurface ground, by water pressure from a water spigot/bib without pumping, into proximity with any air space inside any building to cool the air space, and 4. array a series of magnifying glasses or Fresnel lenses in order to catch the rays of the sun from sunrise to sunset and focus those rays on the car radiator-like tubes full of water in order to heat the water without using fossil fuels, and 5.

Abstract: A networked boiler system includes a first boiler, at least one secondary boiler in operative connection with the first boiler and having a plurality of internal sub boilers, a boiler control connected to one of the first or secondary boilers, and an external control connected to one of the first or secondary boilers. The boiler control enables the first boiler to control a boiler parameter of the first boiler, the at least one secondary boiler, and the plurality of internal sub boilers of the at least one secondary boiler.

Abstract: A solar energy collector includes: a solar energy collection tube having an absorption medium flow path for allowing an absorption medium to flow therethrough; a lens configured to concentrate solar energy on the solar energy collection tube; and an actuator configured to move the solar energy collection tube or the lens based on an incidence angle of the solar energy so that the solar energy is focused on the solar energy collection tube.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cooking apparatus including a heating device, a gas passage to guide gas supplied from the outside to the heating device, a gas valve configured to supply gas to the gas passage, a modulating valve configured to adjust the degree of opening of the gas passage, a boosting passage formed to be branched from a first portion of the gas passage and joined to a second portion of the gas passage positioned in the rear of the first portion along a direction in which gas in the gas passage flows, a boosting valve configured to open and close the boosting passage, a first nozzle disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the gas passage, and a second nozzle disposed between the second portion of the gas passage and the heating device.