Abstract: Systems and methods for treating metal pipe couplings, including a frame and insulated panels attached to the frame forming an oven. A pre-heat zone and a bake zone inside the oven, the pre-heat zone separated from the bake zone by a shared oven wall. A combustion burner and recirculation blower are positioned in opposite ends of the oven in a pre-heat zone combustion/recirculation chamber. Another burner and recirculation blower pair are positioned in opposite ends of the oven in a bake zone combustion/recirculation chamber. Heated air supply plenums are fluidly connected to respective recirculation blowers, and include direction-adjustable nozzles to direct heated air generally downward onto pipe couplings moving through the preheat and bake zones. Return air plenums positioned in each of the pre-heat and bake zones each have an air inlet, and an outlet fluidly connected to respective combustion/recirculation chambers. Coating-cured metal pipe couplings made by the methods.

Abstract: A barbeque stove having a firebox, a firebox hood forming smoke chamber incorporating at least one flip down vent providing means for vary the stove cooking temperature during a stove cooking session and a cleaning plate movable from a stove housing storage receptacle into the flip down vent overlaying the stove grill that will sufficiently concentrate the stove heat about the barbeque grill to incinerate food residue thereon with the firebox and/or hood providing flanges for supporting the grill cleaning sheet.

Abstract: A process for reducing the CO2 and other pollutants produced by the combustion of a fuel in a combustion chamber while maintaining or increasing the efficiency of said combustion includes feeding to the combustion chamber, or preconditioning the combustion chamber, with a catalyst, preferably a lithium based salt. Monitoring the energy output and components of the exhaust gas stream to maintain optimum operation allows reduction, during the process, of the catalyst delivery and feed air. The presence of the catalyst results in increased efficiency of operation and reduction of pollutants generated.

Abstract: A flame holder system includes a modified torch body and a ceramic flame holder. Catch pin(s) are coupled to and extend radially out from the torch body. The ceramic flame holder has groove(s) formed in its inner wall that correspond in number and positioning to the catch pin(s). Each groove starts at one end of the flame holder and is can be shaped to define at least two 90° elbows. Each groove is sized to receive one catch pin therein when the flame holder is fitted over the end of the torch body. The flame holder is then manipulated until the catch pin(s) butt up against the end of the groove(s).

Abstract: A flat flame oxy-fuel burner including a gaseous fuel nozzle having a hydraulic diameter Dh-NG and a width to height ratio w/a of at least 2; a primary oxidant conduit surrounding the fuel nozzle to form an annular primary oxidant nozzle between the fuel nozzle and the oxidant conduit, the oxidant conduit having a height b, the respective outlet ends of the fuel nozzle and the oxidant nozzle being aligned; and a precombustor extending from the outlet end of the fuel and oxidant nozzles and having a length L and a hydraulic diameter Dh; wherein the ratio L/Dh is non-zero and less than or equal to 4; wherein the ratio L/Dh-NG, is non-zero and less than or equal to 12; and wherein the dimensions a, b, and w are sized to yield a primary oxidant Reynolds number from 200 to 22,000 during burner is operation at 0.05 to 1 MMBtu/hr.

Abstract: A sun-tracking solar drive can include hardware and/or be operated in accordance with a method in which angular deviations are compensated for operation including during forward tracking and backtracking. For example, the effects of thermal expansion and mechanical slop associated with certain components can be calculated and used for calculation of target angles that can provide for increased power output and improved shading avoidance.

Abstract: The solar collector unit is adapted for reflecting light onto a receiver, and comprises a reflector element, and a support structure supporting the reflector element. The reflector element is flexible and comprises a reflective surface and a substrate having a predefined length and width. The support structure comprises a predefined number of profiles per length unit connected to the reflector element at a distance from each other to provide a predefined shape of the solar collector unit. The number of profiles per length of substrate may be varied and lies in the interval 3 to 12, preferably 4 to 10, most preferred 5 to 8 per 2000 mm of length of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to portable cooking stoves and in particular, to lightweight, flat-packable stoves that are easily deployed into the cooking arrangement and that have an integrated cooking chamber. The integrated food chamber should be capable of holding sufficient water to be boiled for a drink, or to heat sufficient food to provide for a hot meal for one person. The cooking stoves of the present invention are intended primarily for outdoor leisure pursuits such as backpacking, hiking and camping, as well as serving humanitarian and military dismounted soldier needs.

Abstract: An oven appliance with a cabinet having a cooking chamber is provided. A floor panel is positioned within the cabinet at the cooking chamber. A gas burner includes a tube. The tube is bent such that a first elongated portion of the tube is positioned below the floor panel at a first side portion of the floor panel and a second elongated portion of the tube is positioned below the floor panel at a front portion of the floor panel.

Abstract: A furnace has a primary heat exchanger tube, a secondary heat exchanger comprising a plurality of secondary heat exchanger tubes, a hot header configured to provide a fluid flow path between an output of the primary heat exchanger tube to an input of the secondary heat exchanger, and a perforated fluid flow plate disposed at least partially within the hot header.

Abstract: An interposer including stress-engineered nonplanar microsprings may provide interconnection of bonding pads of electronic structures disposed above and below the interposer. The lateral offset between an anchor portion of a microspring disposed for contact at a bottom surface of the interposer and the tip of the microspring located in a free portion of the microspring for contact and deflection over a top surface of the interposer permits the interconnection of devices having different bonding pad pitches. Microspring contacts at the free portion permit temporary interconnection of devices, while solder applied over the free portion permit permanent connection of devices to the interposer.

Abstract: A home appliance with maintop gas control includes a gas control apparatus including a pressure regulator for receiving gas from a gas facility and distributing gas within the home appliance, the pressure regulator defining a gas conduit having a gas inlet, at least one gas outlet, and a valve disposed intermediate the gas inlet and at least one gas outlet, the valve including a valve stem configured for movement along an axis to open and close the valve; and a valve actuator including a drive element disposed remotely from the valve, the drive element being a rotary drive element operatively engaged with the valve stem for moving the valve between an open position and a closed position; and a mechanical link assembly disposed intermediate the valve stem and the drive element for converting rotary movement of the drive element into linear movement of the valve stem.

Abstract: A solid-state energy conversion device in combination with an ultra-high energy density buoyant combustor generating high radiant, and high emissivity “heat” achieves ultra-high energy conversion efficiency and ultra-high radiant/emissive “flame” preferably creating electromagnetic waves, hot carriers, photons, phonons and/or plasmons created within the high buoyancy combustor to achieve high energy conversion rates. The buoyant combustor can alternatively operate void of the solid-state energy conversion to replace a traditional burner for boiler/furnace.

Abstract: A vented combustion chamber for an insect attractant engine is provided for a flying insect trapping device of the type that relies upon combustion of a fuel to generate a flow of carbon dioxide to attract flying insects. The combustion chamber, which is generally tubular and horizontally oriented in operation, is vented through a hole formed in one side of the chamber wall that extends from the outer surface of the chamber into the interior thereof. During operation of the device, this through-hole allows gas inside the chamber to be vented to the outside, changing the effective length of the combustion chamber for the purposes of wave generation is changed so that creation of a resonance cycle or standing wave, and the resulting acoustic phenomenon of howling, is prevented.

Abstract: A concentrated solar power (CSP) system includes channels arranged to convey a flowing solids medium descending under gravity. The channels form a light-absorbing surface configured to absorb solar flux from a heliostat field. The channels may be independently supported, for example by suspension, and gaps between the channels are sized to accommodate thermal expansion. The light absorbing surface may be sloped so that the inside surfaces of the channels proximate to the light absorbing surface define downward-slanting channel floors, and the flowing solids medium flows along these floors. Baffles may be disposed inside the channels and oriented across the direction of descent of the flowing solids medium. The channels may include wedge-shaped walls forming the light-absorbing surface and defining multiple-reflection light paths for solar flux from the heliostat field incident on the light-absorbing surface.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a combustion method for a solid feed using a chemical loop wherein an oxygen-carrying material circulates, said method comprising at least: contacting the solid feed particles in the presence of metallic oxide particles in a first reaction zone (R1) operating in dense fluidized bed mode, carrying out combustion of the gaseous effluents from first reaction zone (R1) in the presence of metallic oxide particles in a second reaction zone (R2), separating in a separation zone (S3) the unburnt particles and the metallic oxide particles within a mixture coming from second reaction zone (R2), re-oxidizing the metallic oxide particles in an oxidation zone (R4) prior to sending them back to first zone (R1).

Abstract: A pilot tube assembly for easy repair and/or replacement of a pilot hood is disclosed. In one example, a field configurable burner tube assembly may include a burner tube, a pilot hood, wherein the pilot hood engages the burner tube and can be secured to the burner tube in any of two or more different orientations in the field, a thermo-electric device, and a bracket for carrying the pilot hood and burner tube assembly adjacent to the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a surface-combustion gas burner comprising a combustion grate consisting of a metal sheet pierced with a series of slots. This burner is remarkable in that said metal sheet comprises a series of deflectors made in one piece with said metal sheet and protruding on the outer face of same, each deflector extending longitudinally and laterally above the entire surface of a slot, and in that each deflector comprises a guide portion for guiding the gas flow and a junction portion joining to the metal sheet, said guide portion being spaced from the metal sheet in such a way as to provide therewith at least one lateral gas ejection port, said deflectors being disposed in pairs in such a way that the lateral gas ejection ports of same face each other.

Abstract: A home appliance having a water-fed steaming apparatus, the home appliance including an appliance body housing the steaming apparatus; a water supply vessel for supplying water to the steaming apparatus; a vessel housing within the appliance body for holding the water supply vessel; and a mounting assembly for mounting the vessel housing to the appliance body, the mounting assembly including a bezel having a locking element; a bracket engaged with the vessel housing and the locking element; and a spacer element extending between the appliance body and the bracket to define an air gap between the vessel housing and the appliance body for air flow between the vessel housing and the appliance body for cooling the vessel housing.

Abstract: A heat receiver tube for absorbing solar energy and for transferring the absorbed solar energy to a heat transfer fluid is provided. The heat receiver tube includes a first partial surface, which is covered by a solar energy absorptive coating, and a second partial surface, which is substantially uncovered by the absorbing coating. Also provided is a parabolic trough collector with a parabolic mirror having a sunlight reflecting surface for concentrating sunlight in a focal line of the parabolic minor and a heat receiver tube which is arranged in the focal line of the parabolic mirror, wherein the heat receiver tube is arranged in the focal line such that the first partial surface with the solar absorptive coating is at least partially located opposite to the sunlight reflecting surface and the second partial surface at least partially averted to the sunlight reflecting surface.