Abstract: A liquid heating appliance for making a beverage, the liquid heating appliance comprising: a plurality of heating components for heating a liquid, where at least a first of the plurality of heating components is powered using mains power, a power management system, wherein the power management system comprises: a controller, and an energy storage device, wherein the controller is arranged to: control an amount of the mains power applied to the first of the plurality of heating components, control an amount of stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to at least a second of the plurality of heating components, and switch polarity of the voltage of the stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to the second of the plurality of heating components after one or more heating cycles associated with the second of the plurality of heating components.

Abstract: An appliance (210) to heat a liquid, the appliance (21) including: a vessel (212) to receive the liquid to be heated, the vessel (212) having a generally central upright longitudinal axis (218), a bottom housing (220), and a side wall (222) extending upwardly from the bottom housing (220), with a portion of the bottom housing (220) and side wall (222) at least partly enclosing a chamber (234) within which the liquid is heated; and a heating element (238) in thermal communication with the chamber (234) so that heat generated by the element (238) can be delivered to the liquid via convection, wherein the housing (210) includes a deformable sealing member (268) sealingly associated with the element (238) to sealingly connect the element (238) and bottom housing (220), with the member (268) inhibiting transmission of sound from the chamber (234).

Abstract: An energy management system (401) for a kitchen appliance (201), the energy management system (401) comprising: a mains power system, a backup energy storage system (405), and a con-troller (411), wherein the controller (411) is arranged to: determine a state of health of the energy storage system; determine a state of charge of the energy storage system; determine how energy from the energy storage system is to be used based on the determined state of health, the determined state of charge and at least one measured variable obtained from a kitchen appliance (201), and apply the energy to operate at least one function of the kitchen appliance (201).

Abstract: An appliance (210) to heat a liquid, the appliance (21) including: a vessel (212) to receive the liquid to be heated, the vessel (212) having a generally central upright longitudinal axis (218), a bottom housing (220), and a side wall (222) extending upwardly from the bottom housing (220), with a portion of the bottom housing (220) and side wall (222) at least partly enclosing a chamber (234) within which the liquid is heated; and a heating element (238) in thermal communication with the chamber (234) so that heat generated by the element (238) can be delivered to the liquid via convection, wherein the housing (210) includes a deformable sealing member (268) sealingly associated with the element (238) to sealingly connect the element (238) and bottom housing (220), with the member (268) inhibiting transmission of sound from the chamber (234).

Abstract: A liquid heating appliance for making a beverage, the liquid heating appliance comprising: a plurality of heating components for heating a liquid, where at least a first of the plurality of heating components is powered using mains power, a power management system, wherein the power management system comprises: a controller, and an energy storage device, wherein the controller is arranged to: control an amount of the mains power applied to the first of the plurality of heating components, control an amount of stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to at least a second of the plurality of heating components, and switch polarity of the voltage of the stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to the second of the plurality of heating components after one or more heating cycles associated with the second of the plurality of heating components.

Abstract: A kettle (10) comprising: a hollow body (14) having a bottom wall (16) and a side wall (18) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (16) to a rim (19), with the side wall (18) surrounding a cavity (22) to receive water to be heated, the bottom wall (16) having an inner surface (17) facing the cavity (22), the inner surface (17) having an area; and a heating element (32) in thermal communication with the bottom wall (16) to thereby heat the water, the heating element (32) occupying a horizontal area that is at least 30% of the inner surface area (17).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a stable pipelineable blend from a heavy residue of a catalytic hydroconversion process operating at high (60-80%) conversion rate by blending the heavy residue with a virgin bitumen, such as a bitumen produced from the Peace River or Cold Lake oil sand deposits in Alberta, Canada, and/or with a Wabasca virgin heavy crude oil wherein the 524° C.+ Fraction of the blend is controlled such that: 1) The blend comprises less than 40 vol % of heavy 524° C.+ components, components which boil at atmospheric pressure at a temperature above about 524 Degrees Celsius; and 2) The 524° C.+ fraction in the blend comprises less than about 80 vol % of heavy residue originating from the hydroconversion process.