Abstract: A burner system includes a fuel nozzle, an electrode configured to apply electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by the fuel nozzle, a high-voltage converter configured to receive electrical energy from a low-voltage power supply and to provide high-voltage power to the electrode, a battery charger, and a switch module coupled to the battery charger, the converter, and first and second batteries. The switch module is selectively switchable between first and second conditions. In the first condition, the first battery is coupled to the battery charger and decoupled from the high-voltage converter, while the second battery is coupled to the high-voltage converter and decoupled from the battery charger. In the second condition, the first battery is coupled to the high-voltage converter and decoupled from the battery charger, while the second battery is coupled to the battery charger and decoupled from the converter.

Abstract: A torch includes a tank adapted to contain a fuel, a firebowl atop the tank defining a fill opening, and an operating device that fits over the firebowl as a snuffer. A closing device may be fitted into the fill opening. The closing device may be movable between a lowered closed position and a raised open position. The closing device defines at least one recess for receiving a portion of an operating device that moves the closing device between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A venturi nozzle for a gas combustor includes an orificed gas nozzle, a venturi tube and one or more support members. The orificed gas nozzle has a longitudinal axis, an inlet and an outlet. The venturi tube is aligned with the longitudinal axis and has an entrance proximate to the outlet of the orificed gas nozzle and an exit. The support member(s) are attached between the orificed gas nozzle and the venturi tube to create a gap between the venturi tube and the orificed gas nozzle. In some embodiments, two or more venturi nozzles can be combined together in various configurations into a nozzle assembly or multi-nozzle gas combustor and attached, mounted or disposed within a stack, chimney or vented enclosure. The wall(s) of the stack, chimney or vented enclosure may include one or more openings, cut outs or vents to provide primary and secondary air to the venturi nozzles.

Abstract: This invention describes a new porous hydrogen burner that is intended to be installed on different types of furnaces requiring a precise monitoring of the thermal flux, and in particular furnaces for steam-reforming of natural gas or naphtha.

Abstract: A fuel-fired furnace incorporates specially designed fuel/air mixing and combustion structures. The fuel/air mixing structure is of a mixing sound-attenuating design and comprises a venturi having a perforated sidewall portion and being surrounded by a noise-damping housing chamber communicating with the interior of the venturi via its sidewall perforations. During use of the mixing structure, air is flowed through the venturi in a swirling pattern while fuel is transversely injected internally against the swirling air. The combustion structure comprises a burner box housing into which the fuel/air mixture is flowed, combusted, and then discharged as hot combustion gas into and through the heat exchanger tubes. The fuel/air mixture entering the burner box housing initially passes through a non-uniformly perforated diffuser plate functioning to substantially alter in a predetermined manner the relative combustion gas flow rates through the heat exchanger tubes.

Abstract: A method includes combustion products from combustion of fuel with oxidant brought first through a first heat exchanging step (150;201), in which thermal energy is transferred from the combustion products to the fuel which is thereby preheated, and the cooled combustion products thereafter are brought through a second heat exchanging step (151;203), in which thermal energy is transferred from the cooled combustion products to the oxidant which is thereby also preheated. A related system for preheating the fuel and oxidant is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a unit for the purification of a gas flow comprising CO and at least 45% CO2 and a method of operating said unit. In one embodiment, said unit contains a first compressor, a heat exchanger configured to cool the compressed gas flow, a separation chamber configured to separate head gas produced in the heat exchanger, a heater disposed on the line of the head gas originating from the separation chamber, a catalytic oxidation unit for oxidizing the compressed CO in the gas flow originating from the heater, and turbines placed downstream of the catalytic oxidation unit.

Abstract: A furnace assembly comprising a non-condensing furnace with a draft inducer. The draft inducer includes a permanent magnet electrically commutated motor and a draft inducer blower fan. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a motor cooling fan, and a controller. The rotor being rotatable relative to the stator, the fan being operatively coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the fan, the controller being configured to selectively operate the motor in first and second different torque ranges of the rotor, with the first and second torque range operating within a fixed percentage and within a fixed percentage of each other. The controller being configured such during normal operation, the motor is not operable at any torques between the first torque range and the second torque range except during transitionary periods.

Abstract: A glow plug includes a cylindrical housing, a rod-shaped heater, a membrane portion, and a pressure sensor. The cylindrical housing extends along an axial direction. The rod-shaped heater extending along the axial direction is displaced along the axial direction and has one end portion disposed within the housing, and an other end portion which is exposed from the housing. The membrane portion connects together the heater and the housing and has a multi-layer construction which has a first layer and a second layer of which at least part is positioned nearer to the other end portion in the axial direction of the heater than the first layer. The pressure sensor measures a pressure within a combustion chamber in which the other end portion is disposed by making use of a displacement of the heater. A thickness of the second layer is larger than a thickness of the first layer.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustor is provided that can stably burn two kinds of gas fuels having different heating values by means of the same burner. In the gas turbine combustor that includes a combustion chamber for mixing fuel and air for combustion and a burner, disposed upstream of the combustion chamber, for jetting fuel and air into the combustion chamber and holding flames, the burner has a first swirler including a plurality of fuel holes and of air holes circumferentially alternately and a second swirler including a plurality of holes through which to jet fuel or air, the second swirler is disposed on the outer circumference of the first swirler, and each of the holes of the second swirler is greater in width than each of the air holes of the first swirler.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a monitoring system including a detecting device configured to detect at least one of smoke and heat, an alarm in operable communication with the detecting device, wherein the alarm is configured to notify a user after the detecting device detects at least one of smoke and heat, a sensing structure configured to determine whether a heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold, and a processor in operable communication with the sensing structure and at least one of the detecting device and the alarm, the processor configured to at least one of turn off at least one of the alarm and the detecting device; and reduce the sensitivity of the detecting device, when the sensing structure determines that the heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold.

Abstract: A radiant heating apparatus having a tube, a partial enclosure device and a heating wing. The heating wing has a wing proximal end that connects to the partial enclosure device's exterior surface. The heating wing also has a wing distal end that obliquely extends outwardly in relation to the partial enclosure device and toward a first direction. The heating wing, except at the wing proximal end, and the partial enclosure device's exterior surface are spaced apart so the heating wing re-directs second direction heat energy in the first direction.

Abstract: An insulated cooler unit that produces cooled air is disclosed. The cooler unit includes, within a thermally-insulated housing chamber, an inlet for introducing air to be cooled, an outlet for exiting of cooled air, an air heat exchanger for cooling air, a first fan. The cooler unit additionally includes a first track member having a first channel member, at least one first sliding member configured to slide within the first channel member. The first fan is connected to the first sliding member and is slidably mounted in the first track member by the at least one first sliding member, and is capable of being slidably moved over a portion of a first length of the first track member.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system for use with hot, cold and source fluid circuits. A conduit module couples a heating/cooling module with the fluid circuits. The conduit module includes four three-way valves to communicated fluid from and to the fluid circuits to first and second heat exchangers in the heating/cooling module. The first heat exchanger is used to heat a fluid flow and the second one chills a second fluid flow. The conduit module simultaneously supplies a hot fluid flow to a hot fluid circuit and a cold fluid to a cold fluid circuit. The source fluid is routed by the conduit module. A method of circulating fluid is also disclosed.

Abstract: A coaxial ventilator (20) exchanges atmosphere between parts of a building (22) that are at differing heights. The coaxial ventilator (20) includes an outer conduit (24) that extends from an upper end (42) thereof downward to a lower end (44) thereof. The outer conduit (24) surrounds an inner conduit (62) that extends substantially the entire length of the outer conduit (24). Both the outer and inner conduits (24, 62) are open at their respective upper ends (42, 66) and lower ends (44, 68). Temperatures of atmosphere both surrounding and within the outer conduit (24) and the inner conduit (62) induce an exchange of atmosphere between the coaxial ventilator (20) and surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A humidifier has a housing that holds humidifying equipment and an image projector. The image projector is set on the top portion of the housing and includes a light source, a removable projector cover and a projector lens. Light from the light source shines through the projector lens and projector cover to project an image onto a surface of the room, such a ceiling. The humidifying equipment may be conventional in nature, including for example a fan, a water tank, a water reservoir, a filter, a filter tray or combinations thereof. The image projector may also include a rotating mechanism that causes the projected image or images to rotate. The light source may also provide different colors of light. One or more optical characteristics of the projected image, such as image size, shape, color and brightness can be changed by changing the projector lens, projector cover or both.

Abstract: A coaxial ventilator (20) exchanges atmosphere between parts of a building (22) that are at differing heights. The coaxial ventilator (20) includes an outer conduit (24) that extends from an upper end (42) thereof downward to a lower end (44) thereof. The outer conduit (24) surrounds an inner conduit (62) that extends substantially the entire length of the outer conduit (24). Both the outer and inner conduits (24, 62) are open at their respective upper ends (42, 66) and lower ends (44, 68). Temperatures of atmosphere both surrounding and within the outer conduit (24) and the inner conduit (62) induce an exchange of atmosphere between the coaxial ventilator (20) and surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a time to cool down or warm up a building zone from a temperature setback condition are provided. A described method includes determining, by a controller for the building zone, at least one of a cooling demand for the building zone and a heating demand for the building zone for a time period corresponding to the temperature setback condition. The method further includes estimating a return time using at least one of the cooling demand and the heating demand. The return time is the time to cool down or warm up the building zone from the temperature setback condition.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a cooling unit having a cooling coil and a fan, the cooling unit for cooling recirculated air from a return duct; a bypass duct providing an air pathway bypassing the cooling unit; a phase change material (PCM) module including a PCM and a PCM fan for drawing makeup air over the PCM; and a supply duct fluidly coupled to the cooling unit and the PCM module, the supply duct for supplying conditioned air to a space to be conditioned.

Abstract: A passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor system includes a non-contact thermopile detector for capturing infrared energy from a focused upon area in a room or zone deemed most likely to be occupied and generating a thermopile temperature signal therefrom, a pyroelectric detector for viewing through multiple passive lens elements (lenslets) that form PIR beams from a large portion of the room or zone and generating a pyroelectric signal therefrom, an ambient temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature in the room or zone and generating an ambient temperature signal detection threshold that is utilized in PIR detection therefrom and a microcomputer configured to process the thermopile temperature signal, the pyroelectric signal and the ambient temperature signal and determine whether the room or zone is occupied or unoccupied.

Abstract: A controller for use in a climate control system. The controller, which may be a wireless-enabled thermostat, includes a power stealing circuit configured to steal power from a first load that is in an “on” mode and from a second load that is in an “off” mode. The stealing is performed from the first and second loads at the same time. Sufficient power can be stolen to support substantially constant operation of a transceiver of the controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air purification apparatus. The apparatus is disposed in a window for separating an indoor space and an outdoor space. The apparatus comprising: an inlet chamber having a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet, wherein the first inlet is operatively open to the outdoor space and the second inlet is operatively open to the indoor space; an air pumping unit for pumping air from the inlet chamber to the indoor space through the outlet, wherein the air is pumped into the inlet chamber through the first inlet or through the second inlet; and a filtering unit disposed upstream of the air pumping unit, for filtering pollutants in the air.

Abstract: A magneto-energy apparatus includes an electromagnetic field source for generating a time-varying electromagnetic field. A graphite foam conductor is disposed within the electromagnetic field. The graphite foam when exposed to the time-varying electromagnetic field conducts an induced electric current, the electric current heating the graphite foam. An energy conversion device utilizes heat energy from the heated graphite foam to perform a heat energy consuming function. A device for heating a fluid and a method of converting energy are also disclosed.

Abstract: What is described is a method for manufacturing an electrical heating device, wherein electrical heating resistors are disposed in tubes of an extruded profile, and openings are cut into a plate of the extruded profile connecting the tubes. According to this disclosure, fastening sections of the extruded profile are plastically deformed and, by means thereof, heat sinks are fastened on the extruded profile. A corresponding electrical heating device is also described.

Abstract: A heat exchanger tube of a heating boiler, comprising an outer tube, which may be flown through by exhaust gases from the boiler firing and which may be surrounded by boiler water on the outside, and a profiled insert inserted into the outer tube, which comprises ribs running in longitudinal direction of the outer tube to enlarge the inner surface of the outer tube and which is in thermally conductive contact with the outer tube, are to achieve that an even greater heat transfer capacity from the combustion gases to the boiler water in the heating boiler is enabled. A first longitudinal section of the outer tube is formed in a cylindrical, smooth-walled manner and a second longitudinal section of the outer tube has at least one cross-sectional narrowing element narrowing the flow cross section. The profiled insert extends exclusively over the first longitudinal section of the outer tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steam generator capable of greatly improving energy efficiency, and an energy supply system that uses the steam generator. The steam generator of the present invention includes a high-temperature chamber to which heat of 250° C. to 800° C. is supplied; a low-temperature chamber arranged adjacent to the high-temperature chamber and configured to produce low-temperature steam of 50° C. to 185° C. from water using the heat of the high-temperature chamber; and at least one thermoelectric element arranged between the high-temperature chamber and the low-temperature chamber.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a solar tracking apparatus that with permanent adjustment for latitude and pre-operation seasonal adjustment, when aimed at the Sun, will with rotation alone, track the Sun. The apparatus defines a permanently polar axis aligned shaft which rotates by the force of a weighted hydraulic timed drive continuously or intermittently at a rate simulating the apparent approximate fifteen degree per hour movement of the Sun across the sky. A two-ended carriage is fitted with a Fresnel lens or other solar concentrating or collecting element on one end and a targeted receiver is fitted to the other end. The carriage is adjustably mounted to about twenty three degrees either side of perpendicular to the polar aligned shaft thus focusing and concentrating the solar radiation on a receiving device, which stores the solar energy in the form of heat.

Abstract: An solar energy harvester and method for controlling the solar energy harvester, in which an insolation collector is formed of one or more elements each having two opposite major sides, a first side and a second side, and being configured to collect energy from insolation incident on any of the first and second sides. A cradle enables installation of the insolation collector on a roof with the first side generally towards the sun independently of the form of the roof. One or more heliostats reflect insolation to the second side of the insolation collector. A controller controls the one or more heliostats to maintain reflected insolation incident on the collector and to decrease the reflected insolation incident on the collector when necessary to inhibit the insolation collector receiving insolation exceeding given threshold through its first and second sides.

Abstract: The present invention limits fluid temperature at a point in a fluidic system to below a predetermined temperature by cooling the fluid when needed and without requiring a separate cold fluid source. The present invention “clips” the temperature of the fluid at a point in the system to within a temperature range and prevents overcooling the fluid. When the fluid temperature is below the temperature range, the temperature of the fluid is unchanged as it passes through the apparatus of the present invention. The present invention may operate without external power, can function in any orientation, and works for unpressurized and pressurized systems. The present invention has application in the areas of solar thermal energy systems, fluid tanks, engine oil and coolant systems, transmission fluid systems, hydraulic systems, machining fluid systems, cutting fluid systems, nuclear reactors and chemical reactors, among others.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided having a heat generation device such as a boiler. A hypersonic energy harvester is provided having a first input and a second input. The first input and the second input are fluidly coupled to the heat generation device. A variable speed pump is fluidly coupled to supply liquid from the heat generation device to the hypersonic energy harvester. A deaerator is fluidly coupled to receive condensate from the hypersonic energy harvester.

Abstract: A geo-energy production method for extracting thermal energy from a reservoir formation. A production well extracts brine from the reservoir formation. A plurality of working fluid injection (“WFI”) wells may be arranged proximate to the production well to at least partially circumscribe the production well. A plurality of brine production (“BP”) wells may be arranged in a vicinity of the WFI wells to at least partially circumscribe the WFI wells. A working fluid is injected into the WFI wells to help drive a flow of the brine up through the production and BP wells, together with at least a portion of the injected working fluid. Parasitic-load time-shifting and to storing of excess solar thermal energy may also be performed.

Abstract: An improved method to manage the flow of heat in an active regenerator in a magnetocaloric or an electrocaloric heat-pump refrigeration system, in which heat exchange fluid moves synchronously with the motion of a magnetic or electric field. Only a portion of the length of the active regenerator bed is introduced to or removed from the field at one time, and the heat exchange fluid flows from the cold side toward the hot side while the magnetic or electric field moves along the active regenerator bed.

Abstract: Display cabinet for frozen products including a magneto caloric unit having cold end with a primary cold heat exchanger and a hot end with a primary hot heat exchanger, and a cabinet suitable for containing frozen products. The cabinet including an inner wall limiting a volume wherein frozen products can be stored, the cabinet having a secondary heat exchanger, wherein the secondary cold heat exchanger includes an exchanger circulator for circulating a low freezing point liquid between the secondary cold heat exchanger and the primary cold heat exchanger.

Abstract: A system and method to control a thermoelectric device using a microcontroller is provided. The system and method include a temperature sensor operatively coupled to a microcontroller that has a central processing unit, at least one memory device, and a module for generating at least one pulse width modulation signal. The at least one pulse width modulation signal generated by the microcontroller has “ON” and “OFF” states to drive the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus detects refrigerant leak with high-accuracy even in a state in which an excessive liquid refrigerant is stored in an accumulator. The air-conditioning apparatus determines that leakage of refrigerant has occurred from a refrigerant circuit in an operating state in which an excessive liquid refrigerant is stored in an accumulator, after a part of the excessive liquid refrigerant stored in the accumulator is moved and stored into a condenser, with the excessive liquid refrigerant remaining in the accumulator as a reference amount, when the excessive liquid refrigerant is less than the reference amount.

Abstract: Chiller apparatus performs temperature-control operation without placing excessive load on an electric compressor even when temperature difference between set and work temperatures are small; little temperature difference between refrigerant intake side and refrigerant discharge side of an evaporator in freezing-cycle, at time of temperature-control setting with small temperature difference between set and work temperatures; PCB2 performs PID operation on refrigerant detection temperature by sensor near the side of refrigerant inflow of a heating apparatus in a refrigerant-cycle; a PCB1 performs serial communication of a drive control signal for an inverter generated based on a result, and controls the compressor rotational speed according to work temperature within range.

Abstract: A heat pump device includes a compressor including a compression mechanism that compresses a refrigerant and a motor that drives the compression mechanism, an inverter that applies a voltage for driving the motor, a converter that applies a voltage to the inverter, an inverter control unit that generates a driving signal for driving the inverter, and a converter control unit that generates a driving signal for driving the converter. The inverter control unit includes a heating-operation-mode control unit that controls a driving-signal generating unit such that the driving-signal generating unit outputs, as inverter driving signals, PWM signals for heating the compressor without rotationally driving the motor by feeding a high-frequency current that the motor cannot follow in a heating operation mode.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a freezing compartment door opening or closing the freezing compartment, and an ice making device disposed on a rear surface of the freezing compartment door. The ice making device includes a case disposed on the freezing compartment door, an ice tray rotatably disposed inside the case, the ice tray making an ice therein, a knob exposed to the outside of the case, the knob being connected to a rotation shaft of the ice tray and rotated by being manipulated from the outside, and an elastic member disposed on the rotation shaft of the ice tray, the elastic member providing an elastic force into the ice tray so that the ice tray is rotated to an original position. Thus, a structure for rotating the ice tray may be simplified.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a dispenser system are provided. In particular, one or more sensors associated with the dispenser system may be configured to detect one or more signals indicative of a container proximate the dispenser system and/or a level of water or ice within the container. The dispenser system may include an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the detected signals at a predetermined sample frequency. The dispenser system may further include a direct memory access controller configured to store the sampled signals in memory without having to rout the sampled signals through a central processing unit associated with dispenser system. The operation of the dispenser system can then be controlled based at least in part on the sampled signals.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a dispenser for a refrigerator and the dispenser includes a dispenser housing, a removable plate mounted to a top portion of the dispenser housing, an ice chute mounted to a bottom surface of the plate and configured to supply ice, a water outlet mounted to the bottom surface of the plate while being located in front of the ice chute, at a predetermined distance therefrom, and configured to supply water, a first lever mounted to the bottom surface of the plate while being located in front of the ice chute, a second lever mounted to the bottom surface of the plate while being located behind the ice chute, a first switch mounted to a top surface of the plate and configured to be turned on/off by the first lever, a second switch mounted to the top surface of the plate and configured to be turned on/off by the second lever and a control unit for controlling supply of water or ice by receiving a sensing signal from the first switch or the second switch.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a compressor having a first stage and a second stage; a heat rejecting heat exchanger including an inter-cooler and a gas cooler, the intercooler coupled to an outlet of the first stage and the gas cooler coupled to an outlet of the second stage; an unload valve coupled to an outlet of the intercooler and a suction port of the first stage; a flash tank coupled to an outlet of the gas cooler; a primary expansion device coupled to an outlet of the flash tank; a heat absorbing heat exchanger coupled to an outlet of the primary expansion device, an outlet of the heat absorbing heat exchanger coupled to the suction port of the first stage; and a controller for executing a startup process including controlling the unload valve to direct refrigerant from the intercooler to the suction port of the first stage.

Abstract: A contact freezer (10) combining the techniques of plate freezing and impingement freezing. One or more cooling modules (11) are disposed sequentially with a continuous conveyor (14) for carrying a food product. Each cooling module (11) includes a refrigerated plate (16) disposed underneath and supporting the conveyor (14). The food product is simultaneously cooled using the impingement freezing technique. A cooling coil (19) is disposed above the conveyor (14). One or more fans (22) disposed below the cooling coil (19) circulate air downwardly through the cooling coil (19) and through an array of diverters (23) so that high speed cooled air is directed onto the food product. The contact freezer (10) may also include a pre-chilling section (12) with a refrigerated plate (24) but without impingement freezing elements.

Abstract: When the temperatures of outdoor heat exchangers 23a and 23b detected by outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensors 57a and 57b become equal to or higher than 5 degrees C. and the sucking superheating degrees of compressors 21a and 21b become equal to or lower than 0 degrees C. while an air conditioning apparatus 1 is performing the reverse defrosting operation, the reverse defrosting operation is stopped and the heating dominant operation is resumed. At this time, the total operating times of the compressors 21a and 21b are reset. The sucking superheating degrees of the compressors 21a and 21b are obtained by subtracting the low pressure saturation temperatures calculated from the sucking pressures of the compressors 21a and 21b, from the temperatures of the refrigerants sucked into the compressors 21a and 21b which temperatures are detected by the sucking temperature sensors 54a and 54b.

Abstract: A device is provided for lifting condensates. The device includes a container in which condensates are collected and a lift pump for discharging the condensates present in the container. The container is covered on at least one portion of the submerged inner walls thereof with a biocidal surface treatment and contains at least one wire element made from a bactericidal metal material. The wire element has a diameter of between 0.01 mm and 1 mm and a length chosen in such a way as to provide a contact surface greater than the surface area of the container in contact with the condensates.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for rotatably mounting an appliance door to a cabinet of an appliance includes a lower cam member coupled to a hinge support bracket and an upper cam member coupled to the appliance door. A pin assembly passes through the upper and lower cam members and is coupled to the hinge support bracket such that it defines an axis of rotation. The upper and lower cam members are configured to engage each other to urge the appliance door toward the closed position. The engagement may be a result of the weight of the door and the hinge assembly may further include a vertically oriented spring for assisting in the downward force of upper cam member.

Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet having outer walls that define a portion of a contact surface. Operable panels are engaged with the cabinet and operate between closed and open positions. A lateral mullion is pivotally attached to a mullion panel of the plurality of operable panels and is operable between contact and tucked positions. When the mullion panel is in the closed position, an outer surface of the lateral mullion is in the vertically pointed contact position and defines a portion of the contact surface to receive a seal of the mullion panel and selectively receive a seal of a vertically adjacent panel. Movement of the mullion panel to the open position rotates the lateral mullion about a horizontal axis to define the tucked position such that the mullion panel can move to the open position free of operation of the vertically adjacent panel.

Abstract: A door switch system is provided for energy saving in a refrigerator. The door switch system comprises a light detector, a first switch, and a second switch. The light detector is disposed in the storage space. The first switch is configured for switching the cooling fan according to an output from the light detector detecting external light. The second switch is configured for switching the storage-space light according to an output from the light detector detecting external light. When a door to the storage space is opened and the output is a first output indicating an open state of the door, the first switch is off to stop the cooling fan and the second switch is on to turn on the storage-space light. The light detector may detect the external light outside the storage space and provide the first or second output to the first and second switches.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment formed in a cabinet of the refrigerator by a fixed insulation wall, the storage compartment being provided with an access opening. The refrigerator also includes a door rotatably provided to the cabinet to open and close the access opening, a drawer provided in the storage compartment, a camera fixed to a ceiling of the storage compartment to photograph both a first region for storing of food arranged in an external space of the drawer and a second region for storing of food arranged in an internal space of the drawer, and a controller configured to separate, through a capturing time of a picture containing both the first region and the second region, a first region picture and a second region picture from the picture to individually divide and store the first region picture and the second region picture.

Abstract: A refrigerator door may include a front panel that defines a front exterior of the refrigerator door, a door liner coupled to the front panel, an insulating material configured to fill an insulation space defined between the front panel and the door liner, a touch sensor assembly that is configured to press against a rear surface of the front panel, a display assembly that is configured to display an operation state of the refrigerator on the front panel, and that is configured to be inserted into a space between the front panel and the door liner through the insulation space, a sensor connector located at the touch sensor assembly, and a display connector located at the display assembly, and is configured to connect electrically to the sensor connector based on the display assembly being inserted into the space between the front panel and the door liner at an installation position.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides method for clean methane startup of a distillation tower. The method includes maintaining a rectifier section and a lower section in the distillation tower, feeding stream to the lower section, directly feeding methane to at least one of the rectifier section and a rectifier section outlet line of the rectifier section when a contaminant concentration of the contaminant exiting as a vapor in an upper portion of the lower section is outside of a predetermined concentration and introducing the vapor from the lower section to the rectifier section when the contaminant concentration exiting the upper portion of the lower section is within the predetermined concentration.