Abstract: A system for detecting a leak in a condensate generating device, the system including a pH sensor configured for measuring the pH of a condensate of the condensate generating device; and a controller operably connected to the pH sensor, the controller configured for measuring a rate of pH change over time of the condensate and a pH level of the condensate, wherein if the rate of pH change over time is greater than the pre-determined rate of pH over time and the pH level is greater than the pre-determined pH level, a leak in the condensate generating device is determined to have occurred.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including more than one fluid conductor, each of the fluid conductors is configured to receive a distinct flow of fluid and heat from only one heat source, wherein the coils are configured to be interleaved to form a structure of a single-sized lumen in which the heat source is disposed.

Abstract: A guide system including a top end, a bottom end, a lumen and a plurality of openings, the system is disposed within a coil lumen at the bottom end of the heat exchanger coil with the bottom end of the system extending beyond the bottom end of the coil in a direction from the top end to the bottom end of the coil, the system configured in a shape of the coil lumen and the openings are disposed on the bottom end of the system, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to channel the flue flow from a burner through a path to heat a fluid flow of the coil before entering the lumen of the system via the openings to avoid a pressure drop due to a tendency for the flue flow to follow a path defined by a shape of the bottom end of the coil.

Abstract: A shower head adapted to receive a supply of water from a water heater, the shower head including: a controller functionally connected to the water heater; and a height sensor functionally coupled to the controller, wherein the height sensor is configured to output a signal corresponding to the height of a user within a detection range of the height sensor, the height of the user is configured to correspond to a pre-determined setpoint temperature of the user, wherein the controller is configured for communicating the pre-determined setpoint temperature to the water heater for controlling the supply of water to the pre-determined setpoint temperature.

Abstract: A condensate neutralizer system for treating condensate of a condensate generating device, the condensate neutralizer system including a container having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet is configured to receive condensate from the condensate generating device, the container is configured to contain a condensate neutralizing material useful for treating the condensate and the outlet is configured to drain condensate treated with the condensate neutralizing material; a controller; and a pH meter functionally connected to said controller, the pH meter is configured to take pH measurements of the treated condensate, the measurements are configured to be compared to a fault pattern, wherein the fault pattern is defined by a condition where the pH measurements are lower than a pre-determined pH level and if a fault is determined to exist, a warning is raised or a delivery of replenishment of the condensate neutralizing material is initiated.

Abstract: A condensate neutralizer device for treating a condensate flow, the condensate neutralizer device includes a compartment adapted to receive condensate neutralizing materials therein, the compartment having an inlet end and an outlet end, a plurality of apertures disposed only on a bottom surface of each of the inlet end and the outlet end of the compartment. The compartment is configured to receive the condensate flow traversing upwardly through the plurality of apertures at the inlet end in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end through the condensate neutralizing materials before allowing a treated flow of the condensate flow to traverse downwardly through the plurality of apertures at the outlet end to exit the compartment as an effluent.

Abstract: A zero pressure drop water heating system comprising a cold side conductor having a receiving end and a closed end; a hot side conductor having an exit end and a closed end; a pump; a bypass conductor having a first end, a second end and a bypass valve, wherein the first end is adapted to the receiving end and the second end is adapted to the exit end; at least one heat exchanger having a flow valve; a heat exchanger inlet temperature sensor disposed on the inlet of one of the at least one heat exchanger; an outlet temperature sensor disposed at an outlet of the at least one heat exchanger closest to the exit end; a system outlet temperature sensor disposed on the exit end and a system inlet temperature sensor disposed on the receiving end.

Abstract: A means of detecting the in-situ fuel-to-air-ratio (FAR) in a combustor or flame zone using a Fourier-based flame ionization probe is presented. The use of multiple excitation frequencies and its detection at certain frequencies or combinations of harmonics of those excitation frequencies, namely, the inter-modulation distortion, provides a novel means of extracting a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) FAR measurement in a combustor.

Abstract: A burner including a burner tube including a side wall, a first longitudinal end configured for receiving a fuel mixture flow, a closed second longitudinal end, a chamber defined by the interior flow space of the burner tube, the cross-sectional area of the burner tube is larger at the first longitudinal end than the cross-sectional area of the burner tube at the second longitudinal end; and a plate disposed on the first longitudinal end, isolating the chamber from a space upstream of the chamber, the plate further includes a plurality of openings disposed in a spiral format on the plate and a plurality of baffles, each baffle coupled to one of the plurality of openings of the plate, each of the plurality of baffles is configured to direct a portion of the fuel mixture flow through one of the openings from the space upstream of the chamber into the chamber.

Abstract: A combined heating system comprising a first heating subsystem including a first fluid conductor, a first heating unit adapted to heat a first fluid and output the first fluid at the outlet of the first fluid conductor, and a fluid mover adapted to move the first fluid through the first heating unit, a second heating subsystem including a second fluid conductor adapted to receive a second fluid, a third fluid conductor, a second heating unit adapted to heat the second fluid and output the heated second fluid in the third fluid conductor, a fluid mover adapted to move the second fluid from the outlet of the third fluid conductor to the inlet of the second fluid conductor, at least one heat exchanger operably connected to a downstream location of the first heating unit and a fourth fluid conductor connecting the second fluid conductor and the third fluid conductor.

Abstract: A low pressure drop water heating system comprising a cold side conductor having a receiving end and a closed end; a hot side conductor having an exit end and a closed end; a pump; a bypass conductor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to the receiving end and the second end is adapted to the exit end; at least one heat exchanger having a flow valve; a heat exchanger inlet temperature sensor disposed on the inlet of one of the at least one heat exchanger; an outlet temperature sensor disposed at an outlet of the at least one heat exchanger closest to the exit end; a system outlet temperature sensor disposed on the exit end and a system inlet temperature sensor disposed on the receiving end.

Abstract: A burner resonance canceling apparatus adapted to cancel a resonance caused in a burner tube having a side wall, apertures disposed on the side wall, a first end configured for receiving a fuel mixture flow, a closed second end, a central axis extending through the first end and the second end, the apparatus includes a member having an enlarged end, a reduced end and a central axis extending through the enlarged end and the reduced end, wherein the enlarged end is configured to be positioned at the second end, the central axes are substantially coaxially disposed and the reduced end is configured to face the fuel mixture flow brought through the first end into the burner tube and the burner tube and the member cooperate to define a chamber the fuel mixture flow is configured to traverse from the reduced end to the enlarged end.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including (a) a fluid conductor including a heat exchange tubing including a first end and a lumen; and (b) a first connecting tubing including an outer surface, a lumen and a first sealing ring disposed about the outer surface of the first connecting tubing, wherein the first connecting tubing is configured for insertion into the lumen of the heat exchange tubing at the first end such that the first sealing ring comes in sealing engagement with the first connecting tubing and the heat exchange tubing while allowing relative movement between the heat exchange tubing and the first connecting tubing and a fluid flow is confined within a lumen formed of the lumen of the first connecting tubing and the lumen of the heat exchange tubing.

Abstract: A multi-temperature output fluid heating system including an input for receiving a fluid supply, a single heating source, a first output, a second output and a bypass path. The first output is fluidly connected to the input, where the first output is adapted for control by a first control device and to receive heat from the single heating source to achieve a first temperature at the first output. The bypass path fluidly connects the input and the second output. The input is adapted to empty a first portion of the fluid supply into the first output and a second portion of the input into the bypass path. The second output is adapted to receive an output from the first output and an output from the bypass path to achieve a second temperature.

Abstract: A high turn-down burner adapted to receive a fuel flow for combustion including an outer housing including a central axis, a side wall having a top edge and a bottom edge, a plurality of apertures disposed on the side wall, a top wall adjoining the side wall at the top edge and a bottom wall adjoining the side wall at the bottom edge; an inner housing including a central axis, a side wall, a plurality of apertures disposed on the side wall, the inner housing is coaxially rotatable with respect to the outer housing; and an actuator adapted to harness and convert the power exerted by the fuel flow to a movement of the inner housing with respect to the outer housing, wherein the alignment of the apertures of the inner and outer housings is adapted to modify an effective combustion area of the burner.

Abstract: An on-demand high volume capable fluid heating system for supplying a total heating power at a turndown ratio and a total flowrate of a fluid supply, the fluid heating system comprising a plurality of heat exchangers fluidly connected in parallel, each of the plurality of heat exchangers comprising: a fluid conductor, wherein each of the plurality of heat exchangers contributes to the total heating power and a portion of the total flowrate of the fluid supply through the fluid conductor; an inlet conductor configured to connect the fluid supply to the plurality of heat exchangers; an outlet conductor configured for receiving the fluid supply downstream of the plurality of heat exchangers; an auxiliary conductor connecting the inlet conductor at a first location and the outlet conductor, the auxiliary conductor comprising a modulating valve; and a pump disposed downstream from the first location on the inlet conductor.

Abstract: A combined hot water and air heating and conditioning system including a first heat exchanger, a heat pump, a chilling tower loop, a burner and a second heat exchanger to provide hot water, air heating and air cooling. The system provides hot water, air heating and cooling all in one single unit. The system utilizes a heat pump to remove heat from ambient air and transfer the rejected heat into a hot water system, thereby using waste heat to heat the hot water system. The system utilizes a heat exchanger not only for the purpose of transferring heat from a heating source to a fluid in the heat exchanger but also for the purpose of dissipating heat from the fluid in the heat exchanger to the surroundings of the heat exchanger, thereby allowing a heat pump to act both as an air heating and conditioning device.

Abstract: A method of controlling a comfort device having at least one effector capable of meeting the demand of at least a user, the method includes establishing at least one zone in which at least one service of a comfort device is provided; associating the at least one effector of the comfort device with the least one zone; determining the presence of the at least one user in the at least one zone; and controlling the comfort device to meet the demand of the at least one user.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including more than one fluid conductor, each of the fluid conductors is configured to receive a distinct flow of fluid and heat from only one heat source, wherein the coils are configured to be interleaved to form a structure of a single-sized lumen in which the heat source is disposed.