Abstract: A cooling system (10) which produces ice and then uses the energy stored in the ice to cool a liquid, the cooling system (10) having a supply of liquid in fluid communication with a cooling chamber (12), there being an ice producing means (24) located at least partially within the cooling chamber (12), the ice producing means (24) including a thermoelectric module (26) having a cold-side interface (28) and a hot-side interface (34), the cold-side interface (28) being in direct or indirect communication with liquid in the cooling chamber (12) and the hot-side interface (34) being located externally of the cooling chamber (12) and being connected to a hot-side heat sink (36) for the dissipation of heat generated thereby, and a power supply being connected to the thermoelectric module (26), wherein as heat is absorbed from the liquid by the cold-side interface (28), local freezing of the liquid immediately about the cold-side interface (28) occurs and ice is produced thereon.

Abstract: A valve (10) for draining liquid from a reservoir, for example, the reservoir (56) in the base of an evaporative cooler (50). The valve (10) comprises a housing (12) having a first inlet (14) for supplying a pressure transmitting fluid, for example water, to the housing and an outlet (18) for draining liquid from the reservoir. A plunger (22) is slidably received in the housing (12) and adapted to move from an open position in which the outlet (18) is open and liquid can drain out, and a closed position in which the plunger (22) closes the outlet (18) and the liquid is prevented from draining out. Water is supplied under pressure to the upper portion (32) of the housing via inlet (14) and a sealing ring (36) allows a build-up of pressure in the upper portion (32), sufficient to overcome the force of a biasing spring (24), to cause the plunger (22) to move from its open to its closed position.