Abstract: A method of monitoring a flame during gas combustion in a combustion chamber (10). A heating unit (1) has an evaluation unit, an extraction line (11) and a sensor (12). The sensor (12) is arranged in the extraction line (11) to detect thermal substance properties of the gas. Thus, it is determined if it is ambient air (B), a non-combusted fuel-air mixture (C) or particularly the hydrogen-air mixture, or a waste gas (A) generated during combustion. The sensor (12) transmits a recorded measured value to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit uses the measured value to determine whether ambient air (B), the non-combusted fuel-air mixture (C), or waste gas (A) is flowing through the extraction line (11) and thereby determines whether the flame is burning or extinguished.

Abstract: A burner assembly for a cooktop comprises a spreader comprising (i) a central portion through which an axis extends, the central portion with a bottom surface, (ii) a plurality of apertures through the spreader, the plurality of apertures disposed further away from the axis than the central portion, and (iii) a ridge projecting from the bottom surface, the ridge disposed further from the axis than the central portion but closer to the axis than the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A candle assembly includes a candle holder configured to hold a candle block. The candle holder has an opening, a wall and base. The wall is attached around the periphery of the base. The opening is positioned opposite the base. The base includes an aperture extending through the thickness of the base. An inner liner is placed in the candle holder and configured to fit tightly against the wall and to provide a watertight container for the candle block. The inner liner has an exposed portion across the aperture to define a button. A rim is attached to the wall opposite the base and configured to extend into the candle holder at least the thickness of the inner liner and to secure the inner liner within the candle holder.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a secondary venting arrangement within an oven cavity to supplement a primary venting arrangement with localized venting of combustion products adjacent a flame detector that detects a flame emitted by a gas burner disposed under the oven cavity. Doing so may assist with stabilizing the flame generated by the gas burner prior to establishment of steady state flow pattern within the oven cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for real-time flare network monitoring. Real-time flaring volume data is received from relief devices connected to a flare network. The real-time flaring volume data is analyzed in conjunction with heat and material balance information of the relief devices. A comprehensive molar balance is performed based on the analyzing, the balancing including losses/feed percentages for each component of the flare network including the relief devices throughout the flare network. Flaring data for the components is aggregated for each flare header. Real-time flare network monitoring information, including instantaneous component-wise flaring for each flare header in the flare network is provided for display to a user in a user interface.

Abstract: A reactor safety device includes a leg and a well. The leg includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with an outlet of a reactor configured to operate at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure at a location of the reactor safety device. The well includes an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the leg. There is a first level in the leg and a second level in the well. The outlet of the leg is vertically lower than the second level. A level sensor is configured to monitor the first level and a controller in communication with the level sensor, a fuel inlet into the reactor, and an oxidant inlet into the reactor. The controller is configured to close the fuel inlet and the oxidant inlet when the first level changes by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a wall portion having a wall inner surface and a wall outer surface, a base portion having a base inner surface and a base outer surface, at least a portion of the wall portion and the base portion forming a vessel to retain fluid therein, at least part of the base portion configured to receive heat, and a plurality of shaped portions with at least three sides extending above, each shaped portion of the base inner surface including at least three sides and polygonal shaped tops, each of the plurality of shaped portions capable of supplying heat from the sides to fluid adjacent to the sides, the plurality of shaped portions including the polygonal shaped tops to induce creation of a plurality of hexagonal convection cells in contact with a surface of the fluid which increases heat transfer from a heating source to the fluid.

Abstract: Hot surface igniter assemblies used in cooktops are shown and described. The hot surface igniters include a silicon nitride ceramic body with an embedded, resistive, heat-generating circuit. The igniters are less than 0.04 inches thick, and when energized, they reach surface temperatures in excess of 2000° F. in under 4 seconds to ignite combustible gas such as propane, butane, or natural gas. Examples of cook top burner systems are also provided which allow the igniter to remain on after ignition at a power level that is lower than during ignition but high enough to ignite the cooking gas should a flame out occur. Examples are also provided of burners that ignite on a low flow setting (e.g., simmer) as opposed the high flow settings that are common in cook top industry.

Abstract: A knob assembly for a gas cooktop may include a knob configured to control a flow of gas from a burner of a cooktop starting at a resting position, the knob defining a hollow interior and having a support cylinder extending vertically through the hollow interior, wherein the support cylinder includes a projection flap protruding therefrom, an inner lock ring arranged at least partially within the hollow interior of the knob and having a chamfered region defining a ring opening adjacent an inclined portion, where the opening is configured to selectively receive the projection flap in response to depression of the knob and where the projection flap slides along the inclined portion in response to subsequent rotation of the knob, the inclined portion imparting frictional resistance on the projection flap to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of controls including circuit assemblies configured for determining igniter, inducer relay, and igniter relay faults. In exemplary embodiments, a control for a system includes an input configured to receive a control signal, an inducer relay, an igniter relay, and a circuit assembly. The circuit assembly is configured to be coupled to the inducer relay, the igniter relay, and an igniter of the system. The circuit assembly comprises a plurality of diodes and is configured to enable detection of and distinguishing between a failure of the igniter, a failure of the inducer relay, and a failure of the igniter relay as determined by a waveform of the control signal at the input of the control for a given one of a plurality of operational states of the control.

Abstract: A system for producing electricity from solar energy is provided. The system includes a solar panel for disposing such that solar radiation impinges thereon. The solar panel includes fluid pipes configured for heating fluid therein by the solar radiation. The system further includes a fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid pipes, having an inlet configured to receive heated fluid from the solar panel and an outlet configured to transfer fluid back to the solar panel; a gas line disposed in the fluid container, the gas line having a liquid gas being configured to evaporate by the heat generated by the fluid and to increase thereby pressure in the gas line; and a turbine having a rotor configured to convert rotating motion to electricity, the turbine being configured to receive evaporated gas from the gas line and the evaporated gas is configured to rotate the motor.

Abstract: A gas oven with stations under parallel or synchronous control includes a plurality of temperature sensors, a controller and a plurality of processing stations. An air intake device includes a throttle valve, a gas transmission pipeline and a main gas valve. The throttle valve includes a combined gas control unit and a gas valve controller. The air intake device further includes an external gas supply source, and the gas supply source is connected to the gas transmission pipeline and a bakeware. The main gas valve and the throttle valve are separately arranged on the main gas transmission pipeline. The plurality of processing stations are provided with a plurality of gas sub-transmission pipelines and throttle valve gas main transmission pipelines, respectively. The gas oven further includes a communication module connected to a remote control to control the oven by way of a remote terminal or a mobile phone app.

Abstract: A double line focusing solar energy collection apparatus of the present invention includes a heat collector, a secondary concentrator, and a bracket. The heat collector includes a primary concentrator and a heat collection tube, in which the primary concentrator has a focus line. The secondary concentrator has a focus line. The bracket supports the primary concentrator, the heat collection tube, and the secondary concentrator. The heat collection tube is located between the primary and secondary concentrators and located on the focus lines of the secondary and primary concentrators. The primary concentrator is a paraboloid reflector or Fresnel reflector. The secondary concentrator is a paraboloid reflector or Fresnel reflector. By adding the secondary concentrator, it achieves low light loss and high heat collection efficiency, and erosion of the heat collection tube by sand, rain, and snow can be effectively prevented, thereby extending the lifetime of the heat collection tube effectively.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly for a cooktop appliance including an upper chamber, a first plurality of burner ports, a lower chamber and a second plurality of burner ports. A first fuel-gas injector is configured to direct a first stream of fuel gas into the upper chamber, thereby drawing surrounding air to yield injection of a first mixture of fuel gas and air into the upper chamber. A second fuel-gas injector directs a second stream of fuel gas into a secondary opening that communicates with the lower chamber, thereby drawing surrounding air to yield injection of a second mixture of fuel gas and air into the lower chamber. The upper chamber being isolated from the lower chamber so that the first mixture of fuel gas and air in the upper chamber does not mix with the second mixture of fuel gas and air in the lower chamber.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a moveable ventilation system comprising a supporting frame having at least one plenum, and at least one biofilter module mounted on the plenum for allowing air to flow through the biofilter module from an air inlet to an air outlet via a growth medium and a vegetation. The plenum is rotatably connected to the supporting frame.

Abstract: A furnace system of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a burner assembly having a burner enclosure configured to receive a fuel for ignition to generate heated combustion byproducts. The furnace system also includes a controller configured to detect a value associated with a wave signal transmitted through the burner enclosure and operate the furnace system based on a comparison between the value and a threshold value.

Abstract: An air duct assembly for a vehicle air distribution system includes a first duct defining a first passage and a second duct defining a second passage separate from the first passage. The first and second passages are fluidly connected to a common outlet for flowing air to a windshield of the vehicle. The assembly further includes a third duct defining a third passage for flowing air to a side glass of the vehicle. The second and third passages are fluidly connected to a common inlet for receiving air from the blower motor. The third passage is fluidly connected to a lateral outlet that is separate from the common outlet, with the lateral outlet flowing air to a side glass of the vehicle. The assembly further includes at least one acoustic baffle disposed within the second passage and configured to reduce a transmission of the blower noise through the second passage.

Abstract: A decorative device which includes at least one controllable winch (8) which is intended for unwinding and winding up an elongated non-rigid element (4), and the elongated non-rigid element (4) is connected to a respective burner (11) at one end (6) and to the at least one winch (8) at the other end (7), and the burner (11) can be moved down towards the floor (1) and up away from the floor (1) with the unwinding and winding up of the elongated non-rigid element (4), characterised in that the burner (11) can be ignited to generate a flame by means of an igniter via a controller (9) arranged outside the burner (11).

Abstract: A diffuser assembly includes a housing that defines an internal chamber having an open end, a return air outlet, and a supply air inlet; a cover sized to cover the open end, wherein the cover defines a return air inlet and a supply air outlet; and an internal return air duct longitudinally extending within the internal chamber and connecting the return air inlet and the return air outlet, wherein the internal return air duct includes an inner duct surface that defines a return air chamber within the internal return air duct and an outer duct surface that defines a supply air chamber between the housing and the outer duct surface, wherein the supply air chamber defines a supply air path between the supply air inlet and the supply air outlet.

Abstract: A staged, lean pre-mix radiant wall burner having an internal staged fuel discharge tip and an internal flow diverter, and a method of using the radiant wall burner, which allow the combustion of a high hydrogen content fuel without the occurrence of flashbacks and which also provide reduced NOx emissions and allow a closer spacing of the burners when installed in a wall, floor, or ceiling of a fired heater in a multiple burner arrangement.