Abstract: Employing furnace combustion gases for both thermochemical regeneration and heating of regenerators to preheat oxidant for the furnace provides synergistic efficiencies and other advantages.

Abstract: A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property. The monitoring system further includes a hot water circulation system that is configured to selectively circulate hot water between a hot water source and at least one of multiple locations of the property. The monitoring system further includes a monitor control unit that is configured to receive and analyze the sensor data. The monitor control unit is further configured to determine to circulate hot water between the hot water source and a first location of the multiple locations of the property and to bypass circulating hot water between the hot water source and a second location of the multiple locations of the property.

Abstract: A local thermal energy consumer assembly and a local thermal energy generator assembly to be connected to a thermal energy circuit comprising a hot and a cold conduit. The local thermal energy consumer assembly is connected via a flow controller to the hot conduit. The local thermal energy generator assembly is connected via a flow controller to the cold conduit. The flow controller is selectively set in pumping mode or a flowing mode based on a local pressure difference between heat transfer liquid of the hot and cold conduits.

Abstract: A forced-draft pre-mix burner device has a housing that conveys air from an upstream cool air inlet to a downstream warm air outlet. A heat exchanger warms the air prior to discharge via the warm air outlet. A gas burner burns an air-gas mixture to thereby warm the heat exchanger. A fan mixes the air-gas mixture and forces the air-gas mixture into the gas burner. The fan has a plurality of blades having sinusoidal-modulated blade spacing.

Abstract: Cooking apparatus comprises an oven. The oven comprises a cooking chamber, a heated air source and two or more vents through which, in use, heated air can vent from the cooking chamber. The two or more vents comprise at least one lower vent and at least one upper vent. The at least one lower vent is provided at a lower height than the at least one upper vent. The at least one upper vent is controllable to regulate a flow of heated air therethrough.

Abstract: A piezoelectric lighter includes a lighter housing having a liquefied gas storage, a gas emitting nozzle extended from the liquefied gas storage, a piezoelectric unit disposed in the lighter housing, and a lighter cap slidably coupled on top of the lighter housing above the piezoelectric unit. The gas emitting nozzle is slidably received at a nozzle window of the lighter cap, wherein an exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle is embedded in the ceiling of the lighter cap to protect the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle. When the lighter cap is depressed to expose the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle above the ceiling of the lighter cap, the piezoelectric unit is depressed and the gas emission unit is actuated at the same time to produce a flame at the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle.

Abstract: A control module for an electrical appliance is provided. The control module comprises a wireless interface, a processor coupled to the wireless interface and a plurality of pins extending from the bottom of the module coupled to the processor, the pins for twist lock interfacing with a receptacle of an appliance, wherein the processor can send and receive command related to the control of the appliance.

Abstract: A gas-fired instantaneous water heater including a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and a heat pump that is powered by the TEG to improve efficiency compared to existing water heaters. Water to be heated is circulated through the heat pump, TEG heat exchanger, and primary heat exchanger to produce a stream of heated water. An adjustable firing rate permeable matrix radiant burner is included, in which natural gas and air are combusted to produce combustion products, including heat. The combustion products are condensed in a condensing system to produce cooled and dry exhaust gas.

Abstract: A locker for unattended storage and automated access of stored goods including a locker housing having at least one environmentally controlled compartment with an environmentally controlled access opening, an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct; a door sealingly engaging the environmentally controlled access opening; an automated latch engaging the door and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position; an access control unit in communication with the automated latch; and an environmental control unit removably housed in the locker housing, the environmental control unit having duct interfaces engagable with the air inlet duct and with the air outlet duct for circulating air between the at least one environmentally controlled compartment and the environmental control unit, and the environmental control unit having an electric power connector engagable with an electric power outlet in the locker housing in communication with a source of electric power.

Abstract: A hot-water supply system heats up water by power generated by power generation means. The hot water supply system includes a compressor and a water heat-up unit. In the hot-water supply system, the compressor compresses refrigerant and circulates the refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit. The water heat-up unit heats up water by changing, in accordance with the generated power, a rotation rate of an electric motor for driving the compressor.

Abstract: A grill top that can be removably attached to a barbecue grill fire basin has a lever that adjusts the height of the rack above the fire basin. The lever handle is located well away from the fire. A ratchet mechanism holds the rack at a selected height, and parallelogram bars maintain the rack in a horizontal orientation.

Abstract: A superordinate controlling device for a heat source system (1) including a plurality of heat sources, the superordinate controlling device being applied to the heat source system (1) and controlling heat-pump type chillers (2a) and (2b) and absorption-type chillers (2c) and (2d) in such a manner that a heat transfer medium leaving temperature that is the temperature of a heat transfer medium supplied to an external load (6) is equal to a setting temperature. The heat-pump type chillers (2a) and (2b) each have a higher Coefficient of Performance (COP) than that of each of the absorption-type chillers (2c) and (2d).

Abstract: An edge-banding apparatus is provided and configured to apply an edging strip having a heat activated layer to a substrate or work piece. The apparatus uses localized heat generated from a controlled flame from combustible fuel to apply heat to the edging strip to active the heat activated layer.

Abstract: A heating and hot-water-supply apparatus is provided with: a control unit that performs control on the basis of detection parameters of a plurality of detection means installed at the aforementioned locations and a setting parameter set in an operation unit. The distribution means can adjust the distribution ratio so as to correspond to a heating operation, a hot-water supply operation, and the simultaneous heating and hot-water-supply operation. The control unit prohibits the simultaneous heating and hot-water-supply operation in a case in which the required heating capacity for the hot-water supply operation calculated on the basis of the detection parameters and the setting parameter is equal to or greater than a predetermined standard capacity.

Abstract: A zero pressure drop water heating system comprising a cold side conductor having a receiving end and a closed end; a hot side conductor having an exit end and a closed end; a pump; a bypass conductor having a first end, a second end and a bypass valve, wherein the first end is adapted to the receiving end and the second end is adapted to the exit end; at least one heat exchanger having a flow valve; a heat exchanger inlet temperature sensor disposed on the inlet of one of the at least one heat exchanger; an outlet temperature sensor disposed at an outlet of the at least one heat exchanger closest to the exit end; a system outlet temperature sensor disposed on the exit end and a system inlet temperature sensor disposed on the receiving end.

Abstract: A sintering furnace can include an outer shell defining an internal volume a reactive agent inlet configured to introduce a reactive agent into the internal volume; an insulation chamber within the outer shell; and a retort configured to retain an object. A method of operating a sintering furnace can include sintering a part precursor within a retort arranged within a chamber, wherein the chamber defines an intermediate volume between the retort and the chamber, wherein a sintering byproduct is oxidized within the intermediate volume.

Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cabinet extending vertically between a top portion and a bottom portion. The cabinet defines a cooking chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking. The oven appliance also includes a combustion heating assembly. The combustion heating assembly includes a tubular combustion chamber extending from an inlet to an outlet. The outlet of the tubular combustion chamber is in thermal communication with the cooking chamber to provide combustion gas from the tubular combustion chamber to the cooking chamber. The combustion heating assembly also includes a burner in fluid communication with the tubular combustion chamber via the inlet of the tubular combustion chamber. Combustion products from the burner mix with secondary air within the tubular combustion chamber to produce the combustion gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle-mounted gas water heater, wherein the water flow pipe comprises a water inflow section, a first heating section, a second heating section and a water outflow section, wherein the water inflow section is shortened, wherein the water inflow section is shortened, a heating section is rapidly heated directly by the combustion heating device, and the second heating section is heated by winding on the heat exchanger, so that, formation of condensed water at the water inflow section is reduced due to reduction of surface area, condensed water formed on the surface of the first heating section is rapidly evaporated, and it is difficult for condensed water to form on the surfaces of the second heating section and the outflow section.

Abstract: An exhaust and air intake system for a direct vent fireplace. A low-profile manifold assembly is coupled to a direct vent fireplace and is configured to receive exhaust gases from the fireplace and expel the exhaust gases outside of the building in which the fireplace is located. The manifold assembly also takes in fresh air from outside of the building and provides the fresh air to the fireplace to use during combustion. The manifold assembly includes separate chambers for the exhaust gases and the fresh air so that the exhaust gases and the fresh air do not mix together within the manifold assembly. Several pressure reduction and equalization structures are incorporated into the manifold assembly to regulate the amount and pressure of fresh air provided to the fireplace.

Abstract: An auxiliary heater with a casing enclosing internal components which components include a heat exchanger separate from and outside the coolant tank and wherein two coolant loops each have their own coolant pumps and wherein a potable water loop exchanges heat with coolant within the heat exchanger. A control circuit provides enhanced coolant flow through the heat exchanger when the call for hot water is significant without significantly reducing the temperature of the hot water being used. A level switch within the coolant tank prevents coolant pumps from running without pump coolant and a filling and air purging operation improves the initial filling operation of the auxiliary heater with coolant and also prevents the coolant pump from running dry. A user switch may dedicate the hot coolant from the coolant tank to either the production of hot potable water or it may share both hot water and space heating.