Abstract: A reactor containing a heat exchanger is disclosed, which can be operated with co-current or counter-current flow. Also disclosed is a system that includes a reactor having a reformer and a vaporizer, a fuel supply, and a water supply. The reactor includes a source of combustion gas, a reformer operative to receive reformate, and a vaporizer operative to receive water. The reformer and vaporizer each include a stack assembly formed by a combination of separator shims and channel shims. The separator shims and channel shims are stacked in a regular pattern to form two sets of channels within the stack assembly. One set of channels will have vertical passageways at either end and a horizontal flowpath between them, while the other set of channels has only a horizontal flowpath.

Abstract: A fuel processing system and method for a sulfur bearing fuel include a hydrodesulfurization reactor followed by an adsorbent bed for removing sulfur or sulfur containing species from the fuel. In certain embodiments, the adsorbent bed is a ZnO bed. In another embodiment, a fuel processing system and method for a sulfur bearing fuel include a steam reformer, a hydrodesulfurization reactor, and an adsorbent bed.

Abstract: A system for oxygen, hydrogen and carbon mass regeneration and recycling for breathing, and fuel/energy generation purposes, especially for fuel cells and rocket motors, by combination and integration of a photoelectrolytically powered electrochemical and gas handling system with one or more fuel cells.

Abstract: A modular fuel cell cassette for use in assembling a fuel cell stack comprising a metal separator plate and a metal cell-mounting plate joined at their edges to form a hollow cassette. A fuel cell subassembly is attached to the mounting plate and extends through an opening in the mounting plate. The plates include openings to form chimney manifolds for supply and exhaust of fuel gas to the anode and air to the cathode. A conductive interconnect element extends from the fuel cell subassembly to make contact with the next cassette in a stack. The anode openings in the mounting plate and separator plate are separated by spacer rings such that the cassette is incompressible. A fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of cassettes, the mounting plate of one cassette being attached to, and insulated from, the separator plate of the next-adjacent cassette by a dielectric seal surrounding the interconnect.

Abstract: A thermal treatment system for supplying thermally conditioned or purified water for human or animal consumption, industrial processes, environmental containment, or removal of foreign species. The water purifier includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between outgoing thermally conditioned or purified water and incoming makeup water; a water heater is connected to the heat exchanger so as to receive pre-heated incoming makeup water, where the water heater subsequently heats the incoming preheated makeup water to a set-point temperature in the case of thermally conditioned water and for purified water also holds the water for a period of time sufficient to inactivate selected organisms to a predetermined level. The heat exchanger has one or more treated water outlets for supplying thermally conditioned or purified water at selected temperatures.

Abstract: A waffle baker is disclosed which is of tubular frame construction having a pair of shell members which have a food receiving part, a handle, and a hinge. The shell members include a heater coil for connecting to a power source and a thermocouple to monitor the heat index of the shell members. A timing system is incorporated into the system, preferably through a magnetic and proximity switch, such that the baker turning and cooking time is monitored with either visual and/or audio warnings.

Abstract: A method and system to generate or provide a moving flame such as to create a varied flame pattern are provided. One or more flow switching devices joined in parallel are utilized to alter the flame port fuel supply such as to produce a moving flame or produce an apparently random flame movement.

Abstract: An open steam generator system is disclosed which comprises a substantially enclosed vessel having an opening for exhausting steam generated and an opening for draining residual water from the vessel. Within the vessel also is a heat exchange coil having a heat transfer fluid circulating through its runs. The vessel also includes an injector for spraying water onto the heating coil to form steam. The disclosed steam generator achieves tolerance for low water quality by minimizing surface areas in contact with water. In addition, the system promotes self-cleaning of heat exchange surfaces using thermal shock to dislodge scale deposits.

Abstract: A burner apparatus for combustion of gaseous fuel and air, for use in range-top type environments, is provided. The burner apparatus includes a burner housing, an inlet, a combustion chamber, and a heat absorbing and radiating quarl surrounding the outlet to the combustion chamber. The burner apparatus is advantageously configured so as to provide for substantially uniform heating of an object supported above the combustion chamber, through a combination of convective and radiative heat transfer.

Abstract: A gas-fired apparatus for high-volume commercial cooking comprises double-sided griddles, each having a lower platen with a horizontal top cooking surface and an upper platen with a bottom cooking surface. The upper platen of each griddle is moved into a horizontal position in contact with the food, presses downward on the food until it reaches a predetermined level above the lower platen, and stops there. It is lifted away when the food is cooked. Heated oil (maintained at substantially constant pressure by a weight controlled valve) is circulated through a first heat exchanger, which contacts, and transfers heat to, the lower platen, and through a second heat exchanger, which contacts, and transfers heat to, the upper platen. Each heat exchanger comprises three contiguous flat metal layers. The inner layer has a spiral-like passage for the oil to flow through, to heat an outer layer and maintain a substantially uniform temperature over its outer surface.

Abstract: A gas-fired, double-sided griddle apparatus for high-volume commercial cooking comprises double-sided griddles, each having a lower platen having a horizontal lower cooking surface and an upper platen having an upper cooking surface; a positioning mechanism for moving the upper platen of each griddle into a horizontal position in contact with the food, permitting the upper platen to press downward against the food until the cooking surface reaches a predetermined level above the cooking surface of the lower platen, stopping the downward movement at that level, and lifting the upper platen away from the food after a predetermined cooking time; a counterflow heater for heating a supply of oil to desired temperatures; and apparatus for circulating the heated oil through a serpentine path wherein the oil contacts, and transfers heat to, a first region of the lower platen and a similar path wherein the oil transfers heat to a second region of the upper platen that is positioned directly above, and parallel to, the

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve 10 is provided in a housing 11 filled with oil 23 and having an inlet port 12 and an outlet port 13. A straight elongate vertical tube 14 having a lengthwise slot 19 near its lower end 15 is affixed to the housing and communicates with the inlet port. Closely fitting down into the tube is a piston 16, slidable between a lower position 29 with its lower end 17 below the slot and a substantially higher upper position. A coaxial annular weight 22, surrounding upper portions of the piston and the tube, is affixed to the piston to exert a downward force thereon by virtue of the gravitational attraction of the weight to the earth.

Abstract: An absorption refrigeration system generator assembly is provided with a centrally positioned, generally vertical boiling pot element having a lower portion and an upper portion, with an annular primary combustion chamber surrounding the boiling pot element lower portion exclusive of the boiling pot member bottom surface, and with an optional contiguous secondary combustion chamber surrounding the boiling pot element upper portion. An included fuel/gas air supply and ignitor cooperates with the primary combustion chamber and causes combustion products to swirl over the lower and upper portions of the boiling pot element.

Abstract: A direct contact condensing heat-exchanger is provided with a water heat transfer medium in which combustion product gases are dispersed in finely divided bubble form against a relatively low hydrostatic pressure differential for efficient sensible heat and latent heat recovery purposes. In one actual application, a warm-air furnace system having a burner that produces combustion product gases as a heat source is provided with the novel direct contact condensing heat-exchanger as a seondary heat-exchanger that advantageously recovers both sensible heat and latent heat from the combustion product gases.

Abstract: Metal strip 9 cast directly from the melt onto a cylindrical casting drum 20 is made more uniform in thickness and in structure by making the temperature of the casting surface and, therefore, heat transfer more uniform, thus reducing distortion of the casting surface. This is accomplished by a novel arrangement of helical coolant channels 25 extending below the casting surface 10 and in heat transfer relationship with the casting surface and being at an angle of between about 15.degree. and 75.degree. (and preferably between about 45.degree. and 75.degree.) to the drum axis. At least one coolant inlet 21 and one coolant outlet 22 supply and withdraw coolant to each channel. In one embodiment, inlets (21a, 21b) are alternated on the same side of the shell with outlets (22a and 22b) of adjacent channels so that the cooler regions around inlets and alternated with higher temperature outlet regions to balance the temperature around the surface.