Abstract: The present application discloses an apparatus for gasification of solid, liquid and gaseous organic feed materials having a fuel value into synthesis gas. The apparatus comprises: a gasification reactor vessel having a tapered interior with a minimum of four zones for introducing reaction gas mixtures, a central perforated diffuser pipe, a solid and liquid material inlet at the upper end of the uppermost zone, a solid and gas discharge outlet at the lower end of the bottom zone, wherein the reactor vessel defining a sequence of reaction zones from the material inlet to the material outlet including drying, pyrolysis, combustion and gasification zones, and confining downwardly moving the column of the feed materials within the zones, gas feed inlet pipes for introducing reaction gas into the zones, a synthesis gas discharge pipe below the zones, and a heat exchanger below the zones.

Abstract: A device for gasifying biomass waste has two each of primary chambers, fume transfer vents, mixing chambers which accept fumes from the primary chamber, afterburner chambers in fluid communication with the mixing chambers, and an exhaust duct. Each secondary burner produces an initial heating flame within a vertical portion of the respective afterburner chamber, and secondary chambers are in fluid communication with the afterburner chambers. Heated gases from the afterburner chambers cause heating of the secondary chambers. A portion of each primary chamber has a heat conductive floor superimposed over the respective secondary chamber, and the partition between the primary chambers is heat conductive, so that conductive and convective heating of the primary chambers occurs.

Abstract: A high capacity snow melting apparatus has a hopper with one or a plurality of dedicated heater/blower units coupled to a plurality of commingled heat radiant conduits for contact with snow, ice and water, and manifolds connected to the conduits for additional heat exchange and to direct heated air onto snow in the hopper. Terminal sections of the conduits are elevated to an upper region of the hopper and have downwardly directed exhaust ports for substantial and efficient preheating of new snow loads. Heat exchanger passages through the heated air conduits allow water to flow in the path of heated air in the conduits to substantially increase snow and ice melting efficiency of the conduits. A water bath in the bottom of the hopper is level controlled to cover the conduits and drain water from the hopper.

Abstract: A dryer extension assembly connects with a hand-held dryer for dispensing heated air beyond an exhaust outlet of the dryer. The extension assembly is constructed from one or more interconnectable tube sections, an adapter section, and a stand section. Each tube section has a plurality of apertures defined through the outer wall and the inner wall for outletting heated air directed through the tube section. The number of interconnectable tube sections essentially enables the user to select an overall length of the extension assembly. The adapter section couples the dryer to a first or top tube section and the stand section receives the last or bottom tube section. The stand section enables the user to stand the extension assembly in a vertical position such that the hand-held dryer is held aloft by the extension assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a cooking grate for improving cooking performance on an outdoor cooking grill. The cooking grate has a metallic plate, configured to be placed over a heat source in the outdoor cooking grill, where the metallic plate has a plurality of perforation holes. The cooking grate further includes a plurality of cooking surface ribs, configured to support food during cooking and positioned above the metallic plate. Also provided are methods of providing an improved cooking grate for an outdoor cooking grill including the steps of: perforating a metallic plate, configured to be positioned above a heat source on the outdoor cooking grill; forming a plurality of cooking surface ribs, configured to receive food to be cooked thereon.

Abstract: A burner assembly including a housing having an air inlet, a burner end having an opening, a longitudinal axis extending generally from the air inlet toward the burner end, a motor, an impeller mounted in the housing and being in fluid communication with the air inlet, operatively connected to the motor and adapted to direct air from the air inlet toward the burner end, a coal tube adapted to convey coal toward the burner end, a coal inlet adapted to convey coal to the coal tube, a first bluff body ring, a second bluff body ring and a third bluff body ring mounted at the burner end, a flame bridge disposed between the first bluff body ring and the second bluff body ring, and an igniter mounted in the burner end and being adapted to ignite the air and fuel mixture in the burner end to produce a main flame.

Abstract: An off-gas flare system for disposing of a waste gas stream containing BTEX and VOC contaminants, and for safely handling slugs of excess liquids entrained in the waste gas stream. The flare system includes a flare stack, an enclosed steam tank disposed within the flare stack for receiving the waste gas stream and vaporizing any liquids in the waste gas stream into vapors, and an enclosed liquid tank disposed below the steam tank and in fluid communication with the steam tank for receiving the heated waste gas and liquid vapors and for temporarily containing any excess non-vaporized liquids. The flare also includes a waste gas burner disposed in the flare stack adjacent the steam tank and in fluid communication with the liquid tank, and a continuous means for igniting the waste gas burner.

Abstract: A dual-purpose, cooling/drying apparatus comprising a rotatable cooling/drying cylinder wherein air, steam, and water supplied from sources external of the cooling/drying cylinder are selectively introducible into and removable from a space defined inside the cylinder. The apparatus includes a first flow path through which the water is selectively introducible into the cylinder space, and a second, separate flow path through which either of the air and steam are selectively introducible into the cylinder space. The apparatus is characterized by a cooling mode, in which the water and air are selectively introducible into the cylinder space through the first and second flow paths, respectively, and a drying mode, wherein the steam is selectively introducible into the cylinder space through the second flow path.

Abstract: The tubular radiation absorbing device (1) for solar thermal applications has a central tube (2) and a glass tubular jacket (3) surrounding the central tube (2) so that a ring-shaped space (4) is formed between the central tube (2) and the tubular jacket (3). The ring-shaped space (4) contains at least one inert gas with a partial pressure of 3 to 200 mbar. Alternatively in another embodiment a gas-tight closed container (10) filled with at least one inert gas is arranged in the ring-shaped space (4). The container (10) has a device for supplying inert gas to the ring-shaped space (4) in order to compensate for increased heat losses due to diffusion of hydrogen into the ring-shaped space (4) from the heat carrier medium.

Abstract: A safety valve supply circuit for the ignition of a gas burner is disclosed. Said safety valve is directly supplied by a flame-detecting thermocouple, and said supply circuit comprises a supply capacitor that is charged from an alternating mains voltage, obtaining from the energy accumulated in said supply capacitor, due to said charging, an input voltage signal that is used to temporarily supply said safety valve in order to maintain it open. Said charging of the supply capacitor is carried out by momentarily activating a supply switch to temporarily connect said supply capacitor to said alternating mains voltage, said supply switch activation occurring concurrently with the activation of the gas burner. Said supply circuit also comprises conditioning means for converting said input voltage signal into an output voltage signal that is directly applied to said safety valve to supply it, and so maintain it open.

Abstract: A device for drying laundry by means of a current of air includes a drum to accommodate the laundry and a ducting system to direct the current of air. The ducting system has a section arranged downstream of the drum in which a filter is arranged to capture lint from the current of air. A scraper is movably mounted over the filter. This filter is a channel arranged in an approximately horizontal manner and in the form of an inverted arch. The scraper has a foil resting on the filter in a sprung manner, the scraper being curved in accordance with the shape of the channel. Moving the scraper along the longitudinal axis of the filter scrapes lint off the filter and into a collection reservoir.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly connected to a source of gas. The gas burner assembly has a burner body. The burner body has a generally enclosed chamber with a central axis and is configured with a generally circular wall. Ports are formed at the top of the wall and are in flow communication to an area external the burner body for combustion of the gas. A venturi directs the flow of gas from the source of gas into the chamber through an opening where the opening is offset from the central axis of the chamber. The burner body further has a stability chamber.

Abstract: In a ceiling part of a heating chamber, a sub-cavity is provided in which a steam-heating heater is housed. Steam generated by a steam generating device is heated by the steam-heating heater inside the sub-cavity to be brought into an overheated state, and is then jetted out through upper jet holes provided in the ceiling part of the heating chamber and through side jet holes provided in lower parts of the side walls of the heating chamber at both sides thereof. Food is supported on a rack to be in a state floating above the floor surface of the heating chamber, and, through the side jet holes, steam is jetted toward under the food.

Abstract: Apparatus for the pyrolysis of solid waste material includes a thermal reactor including an elongate hollow housing with a reaction chamber disposed within the housing. The thermal reactor is vertically oriented in order to cause solid waste material fed thereinto to pass through said reaction chamber by the force of gravity and a plurality of vanes are disposed for both conducting heat into said reactor chamber and for tumbling said solid waste material as said solid waste material passes through said reaction chamber.

Abstract: A lint screen assembly for a clothes dryer has a scraper blade within an open frame which mounts a lint screen panel to enable scraping out accumulated lint therefrom. The scraper blade is pivotable from a stowed position to an on-edge operative position and guided when being stroked across the lint screen panels by pivot pins captured in slots in opposite side members of the open frame.

Abstract: A pyrolysis oven configured for vertical conveyance of material for incineration. The oven makes use of gravity and multiple plates to control the movement of material through the oven chamber. The plates and oven interior are heated in a low oxygen, pressurized environment to effect the decomposition of material as it freefalls down the chamber and makes contact with heated plates. The configuration and angle of declination of plates determines the freefall rate and retention time within the incinerating environment. The decomposition produces char and gas resultants, each of which are carried off through separate exits configured in the oven. The oven may be used as part of a waste management system in connection with a thermal oxidation chamber for the treatment of volatile organic compound gases that are a by-product of the pyrolytic process.

Abstract: Solar collectors heat and self pump heat transfer fluid at reduced system pressure without mechanical intervention for heat exchange with hot water in a storage tank. Slugs of hot fluid are pumped by steam bubbles formed in solar collector tubes through an upper manifold and an exit-tube into an upper hot fluid reservoir. Hot fluid flows downward through a heat exchanger at the tank. Cold fluid returns to a lower reservoir. Vapor flows from the upper reservoir and is condensed by cooler water and walls of the lower reservoir. The cool fluid returns from the lower reservoir to a lower manifold supplying the collector tubes. Below ambient pressure is automatically established in the system. When heat build-up increases pressure in the system, fluid flows to a third closed variable volume reservoir. A float valve in the bottom of the third reservoir allows liquid to return to the system when it cools.

Abstract: A modular portable gas grill including an energy management system for even temperature control, enhanced flavor devices, and electronic, electro-mechanical, or mechanical controls is provided. The grill includes a touch control system including sliders or knobs providing efficient, precise and accurate control. Heat and flame deflecting shields provide an improved air draft, heat, and flavoring system and can be removed for cleaning. Modular design construction and a quick-connect gas manifold permit the addition of additional components at a later date such as a rotisserie, and a smoke chute for flavoring. Burner shields protect the burner and flame from greases and liquids. The grill also features the ability to easily convert between propane and natural gas fuel and an electronic reigniting system providing individualized control to the burners. The grill also features a dual fuel mode giving a user the ability to use propane or natural gas along with charcoal or other solid fuel.

Abstract: A convection oven is disclosed. The convection oven includes an indirect heating chamber and a housing forming both an oven chamber and a circulation path between the oven chamber and the indirect heating chamber. An air circulator is adapted to circulate air through the circulation path. A fuel burner is adapted to generate heat, and heat from the fuel burner is transferred to the indirect heating chamber through a heat exchange interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for gasifying solid organic fuel includes a refractory-lined oxidation chamber, fuel storage, a transfer connecting the fuel storage with an inlet into the oxidation chamber for transferring in an upwardly inclined direction the solid fuel from the fuel storage into the inlet to form an upwardly mounded fuel bed. An oxidant is supplied into the fuel bed to gasify the organic materials in the fuel to produce a gaseous effluent from the fuel bed, thereby leaving a residue of the fuel. The residue drops through an opening under the oxidation chamber onto a residue removal transfer. The oxidant is supplied through a plurality of perforated air distribution members extending across the fuel bed cavity in the oxidation chamber so as to introduce air into the interior of the fuel bed to thereby promote evenly distributed gasification, evenly distributed through the fuel bed.