Abstract: A heater assembly includes a pair of heating sections, each heating section including a conductive portion, and a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly includes a coupling enclosure having a housing and an end cap, the end cap secured to a distal end portion of the housing and defining an aperture extending therethrough. A coupling member is disposed inside the housing, and the conductive portions of the pair of heating sections are connected by the coupling member. A closure assembly is disposed within the housing and located between the coupling member and the end cap, the closure assembly defining at least one channel that is in fluid communication with the aperture of the end cap and configured to guide a fluid flowing therein toward an area where the end cap is secured to the housing.

Abstract: A termination assembly for a heater assembly includes a plurality of resistive heaters arranged in discrete power phases, each resistive heater comprising a resistive heating element surrounded by dielectric material and a sheath. The termination assembly includes a plurality of electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive power pins of the plurality of resistive heaters. The termination assembly includes a plurality of connectors configured to connect the power pins to the electrically nonconductive members. The termination assembly includes an electrical circuit embedded in or disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrically nonconductive members.

Abstract: A termination assembly for a heater assembly includes a plurality of resistive heaters arranged in discrete power phases, each resistive heater comprising a resistive heating element surrounded by dielectric material and a sheath. The termination assembly includes a plurality of electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive power pins of the plurality of resistive heaters. The termination assembly includes a plurality of connectors configured to connect the power pins to the electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a number of the plurality of connectors corresponding to a number of power pins being terminated. The termination assembly includes an electrical circuit embedded in or disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrically nonconductive members.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for producing metal sulfide disposed on particle substrates. In at least one embodiment, a method for producing an alkali earth hydroxide particle having a metal sulfide disposed thereon includes introducing an alkali earth oxide particle with a metal sulfate to form a first composition. The method includes introducing an alkali sulfide or an alkali earth sulfide with the first composition to form a second composition. The present disclosure further relates to compositions of matter having metal sulfide disposed on a particle substrate. In at least one embodiment, a composition of matter includes an alkali earth hydroxide particle. The composition of matter includes a metal sulfide disposed on the alkali earth hydroxide particle.

Abstract: Apparatus. methods. and systems for heat treatment of solid materials utilizing an indirect rotary calciner comprising one or more thermal expansion tolerant inner tubes fixed to an outer rotating shell. for example. by one or more resilient support members. The described methods of thermal treatment may be particularly utilized with cement and lime production processes and/or other heat treatment applications. such as pyrolysis.

Abstract: An elevated colander facilitates separating a mixture of solids and fluid while reducing risk of contamination of the solids from backsplash than traditional methods and devices. The colander may be placed into a larger receptacle (e.g., sink) from which fluid may be disposed, and a mixture of solids and fluids may be poured into the colander to isolate the solids from the fluids. Fluids entering the colander may escape through a plurality of holes in outer walls of the colander and spill into the larger receptacle. A lower ring and bottom surface of the elevated colander below the outer walls may each prevent a measure of backsplash from reentering the colander, thereby minimizing contamination of the solids from the larger receptacle. A support structure extending from the bottom surface may elevate the colander and its contents above pooling fluid accumulating below.

Abstract: A system for directly tracking human activity is described. The system comprises a plurality of interactive activity objects such as, construction toys, that interact with each other in one or more activities involving physical manipulation of the interactive activity objects by a person; at least one wearable device associated with the person to track the person's activity by sensing the person's movements, to obtain data directly relating to the person's activity; and a database to record the person's direct activity and at least some of the person's direct physical manipulation of with the interactive activity objects.

Abstract: A termination assembly for a heater assembly includes a plurality of resistive heaters arranged in discrete power phases, each resistive heater comprising a resistive heating element surrounded by dielectric material and a sheath. The termination assembly includes a plurality of electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive power pins of the plurality of resistive heaters. The termination assembly includes a plurality of connectors configured to connect the power pins to the electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a number of the plurality of connectors corresponding to a number of power pins being terminated. The termination assembly includes an electrical circuit embedded in or disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrically nonconductive members.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a pair of heating sections and a coupling assembly. The heating sections each include a conductive portion. The coupling assembly includes a coupling enclosure and a coupling member disposed inside the coupling enclosure. The conductive portions of the pair of heating sections are connected by the coupling member inside the coupling enclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for producing metal sulfide disposed on particle substrates. In at least one embodiment, a method for producing an alkali earth hydroxide particle having a metal sulfide disposed thereon includes introducing an alkali earth oxide particle with a metal sulfate to form a first composition. The method includes introducing an alkali sulfide or an alkali earth sulfide with the first composition to form a second composition. The present disclosure further relates to compositions of matter having metal sulfide disposed on a particle substrate. In at least one embodiment, a composition of matter includes an alkali earth hydroxide particle. The composition of matter includes a metal sulfide disposed on the alkali earth hydroxide particle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes and apparatus for calcination of particulate feedstock using process waste gas. In at least one embodiment, a process includes heat treating a particulate carbon feedstock in a heating system to form an activated carbon. The process includes removing a waste gas from the heating system. The process includes introducing the waste gas with a particulate material in a thermal oxidizer coupled with the heating system to form a calcined material. In at least one embodiment, a process includes heat treating a particulate carbon feedstock in a heating system to form an activated carbon. The process includes separating a waste gas from the heating system. The process includes introducing the waste gas with a particulate material in a duct coupled with a thermal oxidizer.

Abstract: A water heater that includes a cylindrical storage tank and at least one heating element, is modeled using a one-dimensional model that includes: a vertical stack of disks representing the water volume in the cylindrical storage tank, and a stack of annular segments surrounding the vertical stack of disks. Various temperature measurements are determined via resistance calculations of the at least one heating element. The stack of annular segments represents the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical storage tank. The one-dimensional model may be used by a condition-based maintenance system comprising an electronic data processing device configured to detect a failure mode present in the water heater based on an output of the water heating model component. Some illustrative failure modes include insulation disturbance, heating element failure, excessive sediment buildup, or a drip tube rupture.

Abstract: A cold load pickup device includes a load controller comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller. The device is programmed to detect restoration of power after a power outage on a circuit powering an electric load. A power outage time for the power outage is determined, and a startup delay for the electric load is determined based on the power outage time. A startup delay mechanism, such as a power relay operated by the load controller or switching of the load on/off by the load controller, is configured to apply the startup delay after the detected restoration of power before restarting the electric load. In some embodiments, the startup delay for the electric load is determined based on the power outage time and a startup delay versus power outage time curve stored in a non-volatile memory of the load controller.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing activated carbon from a particulate coal feedstock that involve one or more of the introduction of a buffering gas, a moisture spray, a finest carbon fraction as a fuel, and certain gas ratios. Different methods and system configurations allow the production of activated carbon or other heat-treated carbons while concurrently avoiding adverse reaction conditions.

Abstract: A cold load pickup device includes a load controller comprising a microprocessor or microcontroller. The device is programmed to detect restoration of power after a power outage on a circuit powering an electric load. A power outage time for the power outage is determined, and a startup delay for the electric load is determined based on the power outage time. A startup delay mechanism, such as a power relay operated by the load controller or switching of the load on/off by the load controller, is configured to apply the startup delay after the detected restoration of power before restarting the electric load. In some embodiments, the startup delay for the electric load is determined based on the power outage time and a startup delay versus power outage time curve stored in a non-volatile memory of the load controller.

Abstract: A thermal distribution and regulation system for a garment that includes a self-contained heat source, such as a catalytic heat source. A heat manifold extends about a surface of the heat source and is mechanically adjusted relative to the surface of the heat source to control the contact surface area between the heat source and heat manifold to regulate heat conducted from the heat source. The heat manifold is configured to engage the surface of the heat source at more than one predetermined location to prevent inadvertent movement between the heat source and heat manifold. The system also includes a plurality of heat conductors coupled to the heat manifold and affixed to the garment. An end of each heat conductor is coupled to the heat manifold for conducting heat from the heat manifold to the garment to warm the garment.

Abstract: Tool for finishing a plastic filler includes an elongate member having a first end and an opposing second end; on the first end of the member is an absorbent/adsorbent structural component; and on the second end of the member is a spatula blade. The elongate member may have a stabilizing contrivance for the absorbent/adsorbent structural component and/or spatula blade. The spatula blade may have a laterally extending rib.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing activated carbon from a particulate coal feedstock that involve one or more of the introduction of a buffering gas, a moisture spray, a finest carbon fraction as a fuel, and certain gas ratios. Different methods and system configurations allow the production of activated carbon or other heat-treated carbons while concurrently avoiding adverse reaction conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing activated carbon from a particulate coal feedstock that include the introduction of a buffering gas, a moisture spray, a finest carbon fraction as a fuel, and certain gas ratios. Different methods and system configurations allow the production of activated carbon or other heat-treated carbons while concurrently avoiding adverse reaction conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing activated carbon from a particulate coal feedstock that include the introduction of an activation medium such that the water content of the coal feedstock is equal to or greater than that of the feedstock's naturally occurring state. Different methods and system configurations allow the production of activated carbon or other heat-treated carbons while concurrently avoiding adverse reaction conditions.