Abstract: A hydronic water heating system heats water for various types of heat emitters. A boiler assembly includes a user interface which receives user-defined water temperature set point corresponding to a minimum outdoor temperature, and an integrated controller generates a nonlinear outdoor reset curve between the user-defined set point and a second set point corresponding to maximum outdoor temperature for which heating is required, and regulates the boiler to heat water to a temperature corresponding to a set point along the nonlinear output reset curve and based on a detected outdoor temperature. The nonlinear outdoor reset curve may be generated based on aggregated heat output functions for various types of heat emitters. A linear outdoor reset curve may be generated between a maximum water temperature set point and the user-defined set point, having a slope equal to an instantaneous slope of the nonlinear outdoor reset curve at the user-defined set point.

Abstract: A hydronic water heating system heats water for various types of heat emitters. A boiler assembly includes a user interface which receives user-defined water temperature set point corresponding to a minimum outdoor temperature, and an integrated controller generates a nonlinear outdoor reset curve between the user-defined set point and a second set point corresponding to maximum outdoor temperature for which heating is required, and regulates the boiler to heat water to a temperature corresponding to a set point along the nonlinear output reset curve and based on a detected outdoor temperature. The nonlinear outdoor reset curve may be generated based on aggregated heat output functions for various types of heat emitters. A linear outdoor reset curve may be generated between a maximum water temperature set point and the user-defined set point, having a slope equal to an instantaneous slope of the nonlinear outdoor reset curve at the user-defined set point.

Abstract: A smoking article such as a cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a filter component having a cavity filled with spherical beaded carbon. As mainstream tobacco smoke is drawn through the filter component, targeted gas phase smoke constituents are removed as the smoke passes through the carbon. During the filter manufacturing process the spherical beaded carbon flows like a liquid and substantially completely fills the cavity. Point-to-point contact between the spherical beads together with substantially complete filling of the cavity produces minimal channeling of ambulatory gas phase as well as maximum contact between the gas phase and the carbon surface of the spherical beads during smoking.

Abstract: The surfaces of porous sorbent materials are chemically modified to specifically target the adsorption of select gas phase constituents. More specifically, a functionalized cobalt (II) phthalocyanine-modified porous substrate capable of nitric oxide adsorption from a gas stream is provided. A soluble cobalt (II) phthalocyanine compound can be incorporated in a porous substrate by grafting soluble cobalt (II) phthalocyanine molecules onto a functionalized substrate. In an exemplary case, a cigarette filter element comprises the substrate, which can be an imidazole-functionalized silica gel or an activated carbon of high surface area and permeability, and the gas stream is the mainstream smoke of a cigarette.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbon fiber with a template derived shape and method for making the same by (a) mixing a precursor with a fibrous template, (b) forming the mixture into a pre-determined shape, (c) curing the mixture to form a precursor composite, (d) carbonizing the precursor composite, and (e) decomposing the fibrous template.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming an article with template shaped channels by (a) mixing a precursor with a fibrous template, (b) forming the mixture into a pre-determined shape, (c) curing the mixture to form a precursor composite, (d) carbonizing the precursor composite, and (e) decomposing the fibrous template to yield a shaped carbon article with template shaped channels.

Abstract: A composite for use in smoking articles such as cigarettes is described comprising a zeolite membrane coated upon an activated carbon-containing substrate. The substrate may be a fiber, fabric, particle, granule or monolith. The composite is prepared by contacting zeolite precursors with the substrate and hydrothermally synthesizing the membrane upon the substrate. The substrate may be pretreated to provide activation sites for adhesion and growth of the membrane. By selection of the zeolite components, the composite may be tailored to selectively remove constituents of tobacco smoke while simultaneously controlling access to the substrate thereby prolonging the shelf life of the activated carbons.

Abstract: A smoking article such as a cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a filter component having a cavity filled with spherical beaded carbon. As mainstream tobacco smoke is drawn through the filter component, targeted gas phase smoke constituents are removed as the smoke passes through the carbon. During the filter manufacturing process the spherical beaded carbon flows like a liquid and substantially completely fills the cavity. Point-to-point contact between the spherical beads together with substantially complete filling of the cavity produces minimal channeling of ambulatory gas phase as well as maximum contact between the gas phase and the carbon surface of the spherical beads during smoking.

Abstract: A surface-modified activated carbon is provided to reduce the amount of free fine carbon particles among the activated carbon. By surface-modifying the activated carbon with a layer, the activated carbon can have increased mechanical strength and the fine carbon particles among the activated carbon can be fastened to the layer. Therefore, the layer allows for the level of free fine carbon particles among the activated carbon to be reduced. Surface-modified activated carbon can be used in smoking articles so as to allow for adsorption by the activated carbon with reduced free fine carbon particles in the smoking article and the smoke produced.

Abstract: A tobacco smoking mixture and/or a cigarette wrapper with high-temperature ammonia-release agents therein are provided, wherein the high-temperature ammonia-release agents are present in an amount effective to reduce the cytotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter formed during smoking of the cigarette. The high-temperature ammonia-release agents are capable of reducing the cyotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter by evolving ammonia at temperatures greater than about 200° C., wherein the ammonia can interact with the particulate matter. Additionally, the high-temperature ammonia-release agents can be formed by heating an aqueous mixture of an iron precursor compound, an ammonia source compound and an acid.

Abstract: A method of treating silica gel to improve its characteristics as a filter material. The method comprises the steps of preparing surface modified silica gel by introducing fluidizing gas into a reactor at least partially filled with silica gel particles so as to form a fluidized bed of the silica gel particles; and introducing a liquid reagent into the reactor so as to modify the surface of the silica gel particles by covalently bonding at least one functional group thereto. The liquid reagent may be prepared such that the functional group includes a 3-aminopropylsilyl group, a N-[2-aminoethyl]-3-aminopropylsilyl group, a N-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-aminoethyl]-3-aminopropylsilyl group or a mixture thereof. The liquid reagent can be an aqueous or non-aqueous solution containing 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]-ethylenediamine and/or N?-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]-diethylenetriamine.