Abstract: A critical angle lens reflector includes a solid, lens shaped object that is fabricated from a visibly transparent material such as glass, plastic, silicone or epoxy. A surface of the reflector has a geometric profile with a two-dimensional cross section curve in which coordinate points (x,y) on the curve have values defined by the mathematical equation dy/dx=(y?x tan(90??))/(y tan(90??)+x), in which ? is a predetermined incident angle that is chosen to have a magnitude such that light output, from the light source housed within an illumination device, will undergo total internal reflection upon reflection off the interior surface of the lens reflector.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a light fixture for general lighting. The light fixture is includes a light source assembly that uses a point source of light such as an LED, an aspheric reflector, and a lightguide made of transparent materials, that redirects and distributes the light from the point source to an area light. The novel light fixture is not only functional and provides low-glare illumination, it also has an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Abstract: An LED lighting device (6) having an LED (8) emitting white light and optical filter means (12) suitable for filtering the white light emitted by the LED (8). The optical filter means comprise at least two optical filters (12) that have different transmission coefficients and that are positionable to filter the light emitted by the LED (8) individually. The lighting device (6) includes a power supply unit (10) suitable for delivering different power supply currents to the LED (8) depending on whether one or the other of the optical filters (12) is positioned to filter the light from the LED (8), so as to modify the color temperature of the light emitted by the LED (8).

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a base having a light reflecting surface and having a first side on which the light reflecting surface is provided, light sources mounted on the first side, and a half mirror disposed opposite to the base to reflect a part of incident light and to transmit another part of the incident light. Each of the light sources includes a reflecting layer on an upper surface of each of the light sources. The half mirror has an oblique reflectance with respect to wavelengths of light emitted from the light sources in a case where the light travels obliquely toward the half mirror. The half mirror has a perpendicular reflectance with respect to the wavelengths in a case where the light travels perpendicularly toward the half mirror. The oblique reflectance is smaller than the perpendicular reflectance.

Abstract: A lighting device (400) with an off-state white appearance is provided. The lighting device comprises a light source (403), having a white appearance in an on-state and a colored appearance in an off-state, and a switchable optical element (404) downstream from the light source. The colored appearance of the light source is caused by a photoluminescent material in the light source. The switchable optical element has at least a transmissive state and a state being reflective in the wavelength region in which the light source absorbs light, resulting in a white appearance when the light source is in its off-state and the switchable optical element is in its reflective state. According to an embodiment of the invention, the lighting device (400) is arranged as a luminaire further comprising an optical cavity (401) and a window (402) covering the optical cavity. The light source (403) is arranged inside the optical cavity and the window is provided with the switchable optical element (404).

Abstract: An apparatus (200, 300, 400, 500) includes a lighting driver circuit (210, 310, 410, 510) and a housing (220, 420, 520) in which the lighting driver circuit is disposed. The lighting driver circuit is configured to receive an input voltage (10) between a pair of input terminals (305) and in response thereto to supply power to one or more light sources (20). The housing has an electrically insulating inner surface (222, 422, 522) and an electrically insulating outer surface (228, 428, 528) and an electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer (226, 426, 526). The electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer is disposed between the electrically insulating inner surface and the outer electrically insulating surface. The lighting driver circuit is electrically connected to the electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer of the housing.

Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, it is suggested that a mounting method for mounting light-emitting elements as evenly as possible in a mounting area of a lighting device may permit increased number of light-emitting elements. In a second aspect of the present invention, a lighting device including a substrate with a circular mounting area, a plurality of light-emitting elements configured to be positioned at centers of equal smaller circular areas that are calculated to be equal in size in the circular mounting area, the equal smaller circular areas being equal in size to each other and set as large as possible without an overlapping portion in the circular mounting area, a total area of the equal smaller circular areas being smaller than the circular mounting area, and the light-emitting elements and the equal smaller circular areas being the same in number is suggested.

Abstract: A wall fixture fastened to a corner of a structure that has a first exterior wall and the second exterior wall with a structure non-linear angle. The wall fixture has a first and a second housing wherein, the first and the second housing mourns adjacent to the first and the second exterior wall, respectively. A first and a second electrical device are coupled to the first and second housing, for directing the first and the second electrical device adjacent to the first and second exterior wall, respectively. The first housing has a dividing panel creating a primary chamber and an electrical coupling chamber. An exterior conduit pass is within the first housing for positioning an electrical supplying conductor within the electrical coupling chamber. A first and a second electrical conductor traverse the housing chamber for electrically coupling the electrical devices with the electrical supplying conductor within the electrical coupling chamber.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a mount, a first seat, a switch and a fixture. When the mount is connected to the fixture, the fixture contacts the switch to activate the circuit, and the second seat on the fixture, the light source and the first seat are electrically connected to the exterior power source. When the fixture is removed from the mount, the switch is shut off to protect the users from electrical hazard.

Abstract: A color assurance device houses an array of distinct LEDs lighting sources with each LED array having a distinct color metric index for simulating a distinct light condition to permit color samples to be viewed under multiple simulated colored lighting conditions. Each color lighting condition is at a temperature range that simulates a well-known lighting condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a moving head light fixture comprising: a base; a yoke rotatable connected to the base; a head rotatable connected to the yoke. The head comprises at least one light source generating light. An actuator is adapted to rotate the yoke or the head. Magnetic means is attached to the axel of the actuator and generated a magnetic field, which is perpendicular to the actuator axel. A magnetic encoder is fixed in relation to the axel and provides at an axel position signal based the magnetic field is indicative of the angular position of the axel in relation to the magnetic encoder. Indication means provides an indication signal when the yoke or head is positioned at a number of predetermined angular positions in relation. Processing means are adapted to control the moving head light fixture based on the actuator axel position signal and the indication signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting device (100) comprising a carrier (10) having a main body (12) and first and second protrusions (14, 16) extending in parallel from said main body, the first protrusion comprising a first main surface (142) and an opposite second main surface (144), the second protrusion comprising a third main surface (162) and an opposite fourth main surface (164), wherein the first main surface and the third main surface are on the same side of the carrier, said carrier carrying at least one solid state lighting element (20) on at least one of the first main surface and the fourth main surface; and a heat dissipating member (30) having a first portion (32) thermally coupled to the second main surface and having a second portion (33) thermally coupled to the third main surface. A luminaire including such a lighting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a card type LED driver and transportation means with the card type driver, characterized in that the card type LED driver includes an installation card tray and a replaceable driving circuit board, the installation card tray being secured to an LED module or an LED lamp with the LED module so as to drive and/or control the LED module through an electrical interface in the installation card tray; the replaceable driving circuit board has at least one AC directly driven LED driving unit, the replaceable driving circuit board being pluggably secured to the installation card tray, thus making possible selectively installing a corresponding replaceable driving circuit board according to lighting scenario requirements, dimming requirements, and electrical characteristics of the LED module.

Abstract: A house number light includes a frame defining an opening in a central portion and having a side opening along an inside face. The frame includes light sources, first and second power sources configured to provide electric power to the light sources, and a control circuit connected between the first power source and the light sources and connected between the second power source and the light sources. The control circuit electrically couples one of the first and the second power sources to the light sources at a time. If the first power source is electrically coupled to the light sources, electrical energy from the first power source passes through the control circuit to the light sources, and if the second power source is electrically coupled to the light sources, electrical energy provided by the second power source passes through the control circuit to the light sources.

Abstract: A portable light having a light head with a plurality of light elements and a rotatable diffuser to selectively diffuse the light produced by the light elements. The diffuser is operable by an actuator. The actuator further includes a switch for controlling the dimming level of the light elements. A separate switch controls whether the light is “on” or “off”.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a substrate with a circuit incorporated in the substrate, an interposer having a circuit connected to the circuit of the substrate, a light emitting element disposed on the interposer, a transmissive component disposed positioned to the light emitting element, and a frame body having an opening in which the transmissive component is disposed. The light emitting device further includes a ring-shaped body that encompasses the frame body on the substrate, and a sealant making the substrate and the ring-shaped body tightly contact one another. The frame body is disposed so as to encompass the light emitting element on the substrate. This provides the light emitting device with waterproof function.

Abstract: An electrical household appliance includes an appliance body having a body interior, into which a shelf for storing objects is inserted, and an illumination device having a light source, and a light-directing structure which couples one portion of the light generated by the light source into a narrow side of the shelf, and directs another portion of the light generated by the light source into the body interior.

Abstract: The presented invention facilitates creation of floors and other utilitarian spaces incorporating supplementary, illuminated decorations. It may be utilized in house and public facilities building-oriented branches of construction industry, and in the furniture joinery industry. It can also be incorporated into already finished spaces. The building component is characteristic due to the fact that it is based on utilization of the bottom layer (7), the satisfactory thickness of which shall oscillate around 2÷18 mm, intermediate light forwarding layer (3), the thickness of which shall range from 3 to 18 mm (the additional elements of the design, such as indents, and/or engraves, and/or channels, in which light elements (4) are situated, and/or light mat (8), and top layer (1), the thickness of which shall oscillate around 1÷18 mm, and in which the elements of the design, such as decorative indents, shall be also incorporated (2).

Abstract: An automatic light intensity compensating device of a surgical light includes a suspension or support system and one or multiple light heads carried on the suspension or support system. Each of the light head includes a housing, one or multiple grips mounted to the housing for hand holding and moving the light head to a desired position, one or multiple light sources mounted in the housing for illumination, a focus adjustment mechanism for adjusting the focal length of illumination, a focusing detection mechanism for detecting a position of the focus adjustment mechanism within a variation range, and an automatic illuminance compensation device, which automatically increases or decreases luminance of the light source according to the position of the focus adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for direct contact steam generation for a variety of industrial processes including heavy oil recovery, power generation and pulp and paper applications. The steam generation system consists of a combustor and steam generator and is constructed to be operable at elevated pressures. The fuel, at least one oxidant and a fluid supply including water are supplied at pressure to the combustor. Flue gas from the combustor is delivered to the direct contact steam generator at pressure, and upon direct contact with water produces a flue gas stream consisting primarily of steam. This product stream can then be cleansed and used for industrial application. The combustor can be operated with low grade fuel and low quality water with high solids and hydrocarbon contents. The apparatus and method reduce the environmental footprint by reducing air emission, concentrating CO2 to enable capture and reducing clean water requirements.

Abstract: A boiler is disclosed in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. A steam-cooled circuit includes a steam separator, a primary superheater, and the steam-cooled membrane walls of the upper furnace. During start-up, a diversion path is opened that reduces dry steam flow through the primary superheater and increases dry steam flow through the steam-cooled membrane walls of the upper furnace. This protects the steam-cooled membrane walls from excessive thermal stresses during start-up.

Abstract: A sludge lance for a tube and shell steam generator that has a central divider plate that extends substantially the length of a central tube lane substantially bisecting a hand hole through which the tube lane can be accessed. The sludge lance has a nozzle with a spring biased, reciprocally movable plunger that extends against the divider plate and is locked in position by a stream of high pressure cleaning fluid that traverses the nozzle and exits through jets to clean sludge from between the tubes. An alignment tool with a swing arm indexes the jets to assure they are properly aligned with the tube rows and spaced from the divider plate.

Abstract: A pulse combustion heat exchanger having a longitudinal axis is configured to accept oxidant and fuel and output a cooled combustion stream. The pulse combustion heat exchanger includes an oxidant inlet section that accepts oxidant, a fuel inlet section that accepts fuel, a mixing section that mixes oxidant with fuel, a combustion section that receives the oxidant and fuel and produces a pulsating combustion stream, and a heat transfer section configured to receive the pulsating combustion stream, the heat transfer section includes one or more resonance conduits. Coolant is employed at a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart transition sections to remove heat.

Abstract: A low NOx burner has a housing that includes a burner head defining a gas manifold and a primary flame zone downstream of the burner head. The burner has a gas inlet for receiving gas. Flow-through air vents are disposed around a center of the burner head and extending through the burner head thereby enabling cold core air to flow from an annular core space upstream of the burner head to the primary flame zone downstream of the burner head. The burner also includes a plurality of premix air vents in fluid communication with the manifold for premixing air and gas within the manifold and for emitting premixed air and gas into the primary flame zone. A plurality of staging pipes extend from the manifold into the primary flame zone for conveying gas into the primary flame zone. The burner includes an ignition device extending into the primary flame zone.

Abstract: This invention provides a system (10) for generating energy from waste material. The system comprises a first batch processing oven (12) for generating syngas and a second batch processing oven (14) for generating syngas. At least one thermal treatment chamber (20) heats the syngas after it is produced, and an energy converter (22) converts energy from the syngas to electrical energy.

Abstract: Biomass is quickly becoming an important feedstock for energy generation in power plants. Due to their composition and nature, certain biomass fuels contribute to slagging, fouling, and corrosion. This invention provides a novel method of reducing or suppressing slag deposition and/or cleaning deposited slag in energy production processes in which potassium-containing solid fuels are combusted. Besides acting as a slag suppressant, further advantages of this invention are that the additive has no detrimental side-effects on capital equipment, increases slag friability, decreases slag fouling rate, reduces heat transfer corrosion as well as increasing the lifetime of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly draws heat away from the cold junction of a thermopile element to increase the thermopile's power output. In one example, the heat sink assembly includes a first thermally conductive securing mechanism, a second thermally conductive securing mechanism, and a thermally conductive tube having a first end and a second end. The first end of the thermally conductive tube is secured between the first securing mechanism and the second securing mechanism. In some cases, the first end of the thermally conductive tube may include a flanged region adjacent the first end with at least part of the flange region secured between the first securing mechanism and the second securing mechanism. The flange may help with heat transfer to the thermally conductive tube.

Abstract: A device has a canister for attaching to a fuel container with a wick holder passing through the canister for holding a wick in a position to draw fuel from the reservoir for combustion proximate the top cap. A snuffer in the canister has a sleeve extendible from a first retracted position to a second extended position, the second extended position extending the sleeve partially beyond the wick holder. When the canister is upright the snuffer remains in the first lowered position and when the canister is tilted beyond a predetermined angle the spring moves the sleeve to the second extended position.

Abstract: A mixer assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided, including a main mixer with fuel injection holes located between at least one radial swirler and at least one axial swirler, wherein the fuel injected into the main mixer is atomized and dispersed by the air flowing through the radial swirler and the axial swirler.

Abstract: The invention relates to an off-grid propane gas range appliance incorporating a waist-high broiler, the gas range operating without electricity in off-grid applications. The off-grid propane gas range appliance comprises an oven compartment having a first heating element or baking burner arranged at the bottom of the oven compartment and a second heating element or a broiling burner arranged at the top of the oven compartment eliminating the need for a separate broiler drawer. The first and second heating elements are arranged and connected to the main gas manifold of the gas range so that only one of the heating elements is operable at a single time.

Abstract: A method of operating an electric oven includes generating a door-open signal if an oven door is in an open position. An electric broiling element is activated to perform an open-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-open signal. The temperature within a cooking chamber is determined during the open-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a first shutoff temperature. The method also includes generating a door-closed signal if the oven door is in a closed position. The electric broiling element is activated to perform a closed-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-closed signal. The temperature within the cooking chamber of the electric oven is determined during the closed-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a second shutoff temperature.

Abstract: An oven rack assembly (2000) can be used with an oven (128?) having sets of liner ribs (1004). The oven rack assembly (2000) includes an oven rack (208), slide system (2018) and subframe (2040). The oven rack assembly (2000) also includes a retention/release assembly (2060) for facilitating retention of a position of the subframe (2040) onto liner ribs (2004) and for facilitating release of the subframe (2040) when a user wishes to remove or move the assembly (2000) from the oven. Attachment plates (2065) can also be included, with the plates (2065) mounted to side stampings (2022). The oven rack assembly (2000) also includes protruding forms (2122) on the subframe (2040) which interact with forms (2124) positioned along the liner ribs (2004) to prevent tipping of the subframe (2040) when the oven rack (2008) is moved to an extended position.

Abstract: An object is to enable the dealer or user of an air conditioning apparatus to recognize that the heat dissipation amount of a heat exchange device is less than the heat dissipation amount expected of the air conditioning apparatus. A control device detects a hot water outflow temperature being a temperature of a fluid heated by a heat pump device, and a return temperature being a temperature of the fluid before being heated by the heat pump device, and checks whether or not a temperature difference between the detected hot water outflow temperature and the detected return temperature is smaller than a predetermined first value. If the control device judges that the temperature difference is smaller than the first value, it displays insufficiency of the heat dissipation amount of a heat exchange device, on a display of a remote controller.

Abstract: This invention materially enhances the quality of the environment and mankind by contributing to the restoration or maintenance of the basic life-sustaining natural elements, by reducing the amount of carbon monoxide introduced to the atmosphere from a combustion system, achieved by furnishing a system's approach to optimize the amount of oxygen to be chemically combined with fuel upon ignition of both allowing the correct amount of carbon to combine with the correct amount of oxygen thus fully release the thermal energy stored therein.

Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit is provided. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing. A compressor, an interior coil, an exterior coil and a reversing valve are positioned within the casing. The reversing valve is configured for selectively reversing a flow direction of compressed refrigerant from the compressor. The packaged terminal air conditioner also includes at least one phase separator and at least one ejector.

Abstract: The dehumidifier uses an all-plastic air-to-air heat exchanger together with an integral chiller to cool the incoming air to remove water vapor, and then exchange heat with incoming air to cool the incoming air and re-heat the outgoing air. The degree of dehumidification and the temperature of the outgoing air can be controlled by varying the speed of a variable speed fan so as to provide varying degrees of cooling as well as dehumidification. A programmable controller can be used to operate the dehumidifier automatically, either together with a humidistat and thermostat, or in accordance with a predetermined time profile for the conditioned space.

Abstract: A rotary wheel assembly is configured for use with a system for conditioning air to be supplied to an enclosed structure. The rotary wheel is configured to be positioned within a supply air stream and an exhaust air stream. The assembly includes a cassette frame, a wheel rotatably secured within the cassette frame, and a self-adjusting seal subassembly configured to maintain sealing engagement with respect to a surface of the wheel. The self-adjusting seal subassembly includes at least one seal member.

Abstract: An air-conditioning control apparatus controls an air-conditioning unit used in a central air-conditioning system that conditions a plurality of rooms in a house by a single air-conditioning unit. In the apparatus, a microcomputer starts an output of an ON command signal when started, subsequently continues the output of the ON command signal when a detected temperature inside a room is lower than a predetermined determination temperature, and stop the output of the ON command signal when the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined determination temperature. A protective opening and closing unit closes a first power supply path between a voltage input terminal and an internal alternating-current power supply line when the ON command signal outputted from the microcomputer is supplied, and opens the first power supply path when the supply of the ON command signal is stopped.

Abstract: A humidity regulating system comprises: a plurality of humidity adjusting devices to adsorb or vaporize the mist and water of the humidity adjusting rooms, a water regulating device to regulate the water supply to the humidity adjusting devices, a main controlling device to control the humidity regulating system, a communication connecting device to connect the plurality of humidity adjusting devices with the water regulating device and the main controlling device, and a remote controlling device which includes a remote controlling means to communicate with the main controlling device so as to regulate the plurality of humidity adjusting devices to adjust the humidity of the rooms.

Abstract: A feedback controller for generating and using a normalized performance index for a feedback control loop is shown and described. The feedback controller is configured to generate an input for a control process, identify an error signal representing a difference between a setpoint and a feedback signal from the control process, compute a first exponentially-weighted moving average (EWMA) of a first function of the error signal and a second EWMA of a second function of the error signal, and to generate a normalized performance index using the first EWMA and the second EWMA.

Abstract: A wall module for controlling a temperature in a building space includes a housing and a temperature sensor disposed within the housing. A touch screen display is mounted relative to the housing and a controller is configured to control what is displayed on the touch screen display and to accept inputs received via the touch screen display. A communication port is operatively coupled to the controller for communicating with an HVAC controller that is remote from the wall module. The controller is configured to permit a user to alter a display arrangement of information displayed on the touch screen display, and to transmit the altered display arrangement to the HVAC controller such that the HVAC controller can subsequently provide the altered display arrangement back to the wall module and/or share the altered display arrangement with other wall modules.

Abstract: An air-conditioning control apparatus controlling a plurality of air conditioners calculates an adjustment time for adjusting a temperature of an area to be adjusted by the air conditioners to be controlled to between a desired temperature and an allowable temperature, generates a control schedule based on the adjustment time, and controls the air conditioners with the generated control schedule, instead of controlling with a preset stop time which is fixed, in order to bring the temperature around the air conditioners to the desired temperature. Thus, the air conditioners can be made to stop heat exchange before the desired temperature is reached, so that power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: A system including a thermostat user interface for a network-connected thermostat is described. The system includes a thermostat including a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a circular rotatable ring, which is user rotatable for adjusting a setting of the thermostat. The system further includes a client application that is operable on a touch-screen device separate from the thermostat, that displays a graphical representation of a circular dial, that detects a user-input motion proximate the graphical representation, that determines a user-selected setpoint temperature value based on the user-input motion, that displays a numerical representation of the user-selected setpoint temperature value, and that wirelessly transmits to the thermostat data representative of the user-selected setpoint temperature.

Abstract: A filter condition indicator system is described herein. A pressure differential switch monitors air pressure across a filter, and a transmitter coupled to the pressure differential switch sends a signal to a networked device. If the pressure differential near the filter triggers the switch, then a “dirty” signal is sent to or retrieved by a mobile device which indicates that the filter is dirty and should be replaced. The filter condition indicator is able to be used by bypassing a thermostat and sending an alert to a computer or mobile device wirelessly. Alternatively, the filter condition indicator system described herein is able to be used in conjunction with a previously installed furnace/thermostat system by utilizing the pre-existing thermostat wiring. The filter condition indicator system is able to be used with HVAC systems, air conditioning systems, other heating/cooling systems, or other systems or devices.

Abstract: An asynchronous reporting mechanism for a remote device in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning environment. Using gateway information, such as a device address, report information may be sent to the user account, or using another approach, the information may be sent directly to the user. An asynchronous message may be sent without user intervention or request.

Abstract: In an air conditioning system of the present disclosure, the controlling module determines state of the indoor unit. If the indoor unit is under off state, the controlling module determines whether an indoor temperature is smaller than a preset temperature. If yes, the controlling module controls the indoor unit to heat according to a first heating temperature. If the indoor unit is under heating state, the controlling module sets a second heating temperature of the indoor unit to the first heating temperature, and controls the indoor unit to heat according to the first heating temperature. The first heating temperature is smaller than the second heating temperature. If the indoor unit is under cooling state, the controlling module sets a first cooling temperature to a second cooling temperature which is greater than the first cooling temperature, and controls the indoor unit to cool according to the second cooling temperature.

Abstract: A chilled beam has separate primary and secondary inlets and plenums each or which generates separate sets of induction jets to draw air through a chilled beam heat exchanger. Various system and method embodiments are described as well as features usable in conventional active chilled beams to facilitate the use variable thermal and ventilation load applications.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a subcooler, such as a vented tube/plate or tube on tube heat exchanger, and a pre-cooler and/or post-heater, which may be a vented tube/plate or tube on tube heat exchanger. The subcooler and pre-cooler and/or post-heater are connected in fluid communication with each other (in series) and with a refrigerant output and input of a condenser. For example, the refrigerant output goes into the subcooler, and the refrigerant input comes out of the precooler and/or post-heater. A working fluid (e.g. coolant), such as water or glycol or other working fluid, is forced, such as by pumping, first through the subcooler and then through the precooler and/or post-heater. Flow rate of the working fluid through the apparatus may be regulated such that the refrigerant is first subcooled to an incoming fluid's temperature and then to pre-cool the refrigerant to approximately its saturated-vapor state, when the system is operating to provide a refrigeration effect.

Abstract: A water stratification drum for use in an electric and condensing water heater is disposed in a lower portion of the water holding tank and across the circumferential side wall of the tank. The water stratification drum has a pair of plates held spaced-apart by support members which extend between the pair of plates to maintain the plates in substantially parallel relationship. A cold water zone is defined between the plates and cool domestic water is introduced in the tank between the plates. The plates are flat disc plates formed on non-corrosive material and water there between is diffused in a controlled manner to other regions of the tank through at least one of the plates being perforated. The diffusion of the water prevents premature actuation of the heat source by not causing an abrupt change in the temperature of the hot water in the tank.

Abstract: A water heater appliance includes a tank and a heated water conduit extending from the tank. A mixing valve is coupled to the heated water conduit, and a heat trap is mounted to the heated water conduit upstream of the mixing valve. The heat trap includes a membrane disposed within the heated water conduit. The membrane of the heat trap may assist with obstructing recirculation of heated water from the tank into the heated water conduit.