Abstract: A method of producing biodiesel includes reacting at least one of brown grease and FOG with at least one enzyme, alcohol, and an aqueous solution to produce a reacted feedstock and producing biodiesel from the reacted feedstock, the biodiesel having a composition of sulfur less than 15 ppm.

Abstract: A method of producing alkyl esters including processing a high free fatty acid feedstock including a mixture of triglycerides and free fatty acids to remove water and solids to create a processed feedstock. The processed feedstock is introduced and mixed into a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel includes water, at least one enzyme, and alcohol. The reacted contents are separated into a glycerin phase and an alkyl ester phase. The alkyl ester phase is treated with a primary alcohol and a flocculant.

Abstract: A temperature sensor assembly (30) is provided for an electrical heating arrangement (2). The temperature sensor assembly (30) includes a substrate (32) located in a heater (12). The substrate (32) has an upper surface (38) in contact with the lower surface (10) of a cooking plate (4). The upper and/or lower surface or surfaces (38, 66) of the substrate (32) is provided with a first temperature-sensitive resistance element (40) at a first region (42) of the substrate (32) proximate a peripheral region (34) of the heater. The upper (38) and/or lower (66) surface or surfaces of the substrate (32) is or are provided with a second temperature-sensitive resistance element (54; 54A; 54B) at a second region (56) of the substrate (32) proximate the central region (36) of the heater.

Abstract: A radiant electric heater (2) comprises a base (8) of insulation material having a surface supporting at least one electric heating ribbon element (10) supported on edge. A rod-like temperature-responsive device (16) extends lengthwise partly across the heater (2) from an edge and over the at least one electric heating element (10). The surface of the base (8) is provided with an elongate recess (22) with sloping sides (24, 26) extending beneath and along the length of the temperature-responsive device (16). The ribbon (10) is supported in and traversing the elongate recess (22) such that an upper edge (28) of the ribbon (10) substantially follows a contour of the surface of the recess. The upper edge (28) of the ribbon (10) at a region (30) underlying the temperature-responsive device (16) is provided at a predetermined distance from the temperature-responsive device (16) and is at a lower level relative to the upper edge (28) of the ribbon (10) at regions at either side of the elongate recess (22).

Abstract: A temperature-limiting device (14) is provided for an electric heater (2), the heater (2) being located behind a heatable surface (4) and comprising a dish-like support (6) having therein at least one electric heating element (12) having first and second terminal regions (12A, 12B). The device comprises thermally responsive bimetallic means (22) provided in a housing (16). The housing (16) is supported at a peripheral region of the heater (2), at least partially externally of the support (6). The bimetallic means (22) is thermally coupled with the heater (2) to sense heat generated therein by the heating element (12) and to respond at a predetermined temperature to operate at least one switch means (18) located in the housing (16).

Abstract: A temperature sensor assembly (30) is provided for an electrical heating arrangement (2). The temperature sensor assembly (30) includes a substrate (32) located in a heater (12). The substrate (32) has an upper surface (38) in contact with the lower surface (10) of a cooking plate (4). The upper and/or lower surface or surfaces (38, 66) of the substrate (32) is provided with a first temperature-sensitive resistance element (40) at a first region (42) of the substrate (32) proximate a peripheral region (34) of the heater. The upper (38) and/or lower (66) surface or surfaces of the substrate (32) is or are provided with a second temperature-sensitive resistance element (54; 54A; 54B) at a second region (56) of the substrate (32) proximate the central region (36) of the heater.

Abstract: A temperature-responsive device (14) is provided for an electric heater (2). The heater (2) is located behind a heatable surface and comprises a dish-like support (6) having therein at least one electric heating element (12) having first and second terminal regions, (12A, 12B). An electrical component (18), having an electrical parameter which changes as a function of temperature, is supported inside the heater (2) by an elongate member (16). The elongate member (16) is secured to the heater (2) and extends at least partially across the heater (2). An electrically insulating carrier member (30) is secured to the elongate member (16) at a location externally of the periphery of the heater (2). The carrier member (30) has first and second side edges (32, 38) at opposite sides of the elongate member (16) and is provided with first and second electrically conductive elements (34, 40) accessible at the opposite side edges (32, 38) for electrical connection to the first and second terminal regions (12A, 12B).

Abstract: A radiant electric heater includes at least first (7) and second (11) adjacent heating zones. The first heating zone (7) includes a first heating element portion (5) and the second heating zone includes a second heating element portion (9). An electrical terminal (19) is provided at a periphery of the heater for connecting the first and second heating element portions to a source of electrical energy. The heating element portions (5, 9) are integral with conjoined ends connected to a first electrical connector (21), with one free end connected to a second electrical (23) connector, and with another free end connected to a third electrical connector (25). The first, second and third electrical connectors include means for connecting to the heating element portions in such a way that the heating element portions are not deflected from their intended path to any substantial extent.

Abstract: A temperature-limiting device (14) is provided for an electric heater (2), the heater (2) being located behind a heatable surface (4) and comprising a dish-like support (6) having therein at least one electric heating element (12) having first and second terminal regions (12A, 12B). The device comprises thermally responsive bimetallic means (22) provided in a housing (16). The housing (16) is supported at a peripheral region of the heater (2), at least partially externally of the support (6). The bimetallic means (22) is thermally coupled with the heater (2) to sense heat generated therein by the heating element (12) and to respond at a predetermined temperature to operate at least one switch means (18) located in the housing (16).

Abstract: A radiant electric heater (2) comprises a base (8) of insulation material having a surface supporting at least one electric heating ribbon element (10) supported on edge. A rod-like temperature-responsive device (16) extends lengthwise partly across the heater (2) from an edge and over the at least one electric heating element (10). The surface of the base (8) is provided with an elongate recess (22) with sloping sides (24, 26) extending beneath and along the length of the temperature-responsive device (16). The ribbon (10) is supported in and traversing the elongate recess (22) such that an upper edge (28) of the ribbon (10) substantially follows a contour of the surface of the recess. The upper edge (28) of the ribbon (10) at a region (30) underlying the temperature-responsive device (16) is provided at a predetermined distance from the temperature-responsive device (16) and is at a lower level relative to the upper edge (28) of the ribbon (10) at regions at either side of the elongate recess (22).

Abstract: A temperature-responsive device (14) is provided for an electric heater (2). The heater (2) is located behind a heatable surface and comprises a dish-like support (6) having therein at least one electric heating element (12) having first and second terminal regions, (12A, 12B). An electrical component (18), having an electrical parameter which changes as a function of temperature, is supported inside the heater (2) by an elongate member (16). The elongate member (16) is secured to the heater (2) and extends at least partially across the heater (2). An electrically insulating carrier member (30) is secured to the elongate member (16) at a location externally of the periphery of the heater (2). The carrier member (30) has first and second side edges (32, 38) at opposite sides of the elongate member (16) and is provided with first and second electrically conductive elements (34, 40) accessible at the opposite side edges (32, 38) for electrical connection to the first and second terminal regions (12A, 12B).

Abstract: A radiant electric heater includes at least first (7) and second (11) adjacent heating zones. The first heating zone (7) includes a first heating element portion (5) and the second heating zone includes a second heating element portion (9). An electrical terminal (19) is provided at a periphery of the heater for connecting the first and second heating element portions to a source of electrical energy. The heating element portions (5, 9) are integral with conjoined ends connected to a first electrical connector (21), with one free end connected to a second electrical (23) connector, and with another free end connected to a third electrical connector (25). The first, second and third electrical connectors include means for connecting to the heating element portions in such a way that the heating element portions are not deflected from their intended path to any substantial extent.

Abstract: A radiant electric heater comprises at least first and second adjacent heating zones (8, 12), the first heating zone (8) including a first heating element (6) and the second heating zone (12) including a second heating element (10). The heating elements are supported relative to a base (4) of thermal and electrical insulation material. Terminal means (30) is provided at a periphery of the heater for connecting the first and second heating elements (6, 10) to a source of electrical energy. The heating elements (6, 10) are formed from a single elongate electrically conductive material, the heating elements having a conjoined first terminal region (20) connected to a first electrical connector (32) at the terminal means (30), having a free second terminal region (18) connected to a second electrical connector (34) at the terminal means (30), and having a free third terminal region (16) connected to a third electrical connector (36) at the terminal means (30).

Abstract: A device for controlling or limiting temperature in an electric cooking appliance includes a switch and a temperature sensor operatively coupled to the switch. The temperature sensor takes the form of a rod arranged substantially coaxially within a tube. The rod is made of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the tube is made of at least two tube portions, one of the tube portions being made from a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the first coefficient of thermal expansion and another of the tube portions being made from a ceramic material having a third coefficient of thermal expansion intermediate the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion. The temperature controlling or limiting device may be incorporated into a radiant electric heater incorporating at least first and second heating elements defining separate heating areas for the cooking appliance.