Abstract: A solar cell cleaning device of an energy storage system, and a method of cleaning solar cells. Solar cells are positioned outside of a protective case only when sunlight is present. The surface of the solar cells is automatically cleaned when the solar cells are positioned outside of a protective case, or when the solar cells are stored in the protective case. The solar cell cleaning device includes a protective case, a rotatable drum coupled to the protective case, and a brush installed on the protective case and closely contacting the drum. A plurality of solar cells are installed on a surface of the drum, and are cleaned by the brush when the drum is rotated.

Abstract: A gas fired furnace capable of operating with a 16:1 turndown ratio or greater. The furnace includes a plurality of burners (10) grouped into at least (14a) first and second (14b) groups, each group connected to a source of combustible gas through a control valve (30a, 30b, 30c). The control valve (30c) controlling at least one group of burners is of a modulating type having an output proportional to a control signal applied to the valve. The burners fire into associated heat exchange tubes (20a), each tube having an inlet (24) and an outlet. The tube outlets are connected to a collector chamber (44) that includes a baffle plate (60) that divides the collector into two sections, one of the sections communicating with the outlets of the tubes associated with the first group of burners, the other section communicating with the outlets of the heat exchanger tubes associated with the other group of burners.

Abstract: A gas fired furnace capable of operating with a 16:1 turndown ratio or greater. The furnace includes a plurality of burners (10) grouped into at least (14a) first and second (14b) groups, each group connected to a source of combustible gas through a control valve (30a, 30b, 30c). The control valve (30c) controlling at least one group of burners is of a modulating type having an output proportional to a control signal applied to the valve. The burners fire into associated heat exchange tubes (20a), each tube having an inlet (24) and an outlet. The tube outlets are connected to a collector chamber (44) that includes a baffle plate (60) that divides the collector into two sections, one of the sections communicating with the outlets of the tubes associated with the first group of burners, the other section communicating with the outlets of the heat exchanger tubes associated with the other group of burners.

Abstract: A stove for combusting both liquid and solid fuels, said stove comprising: a burner area in which the burner for liquid fuel is located, a collecting area for combustion gas above said burner area and connected therewith; a discharge conduit for the combustion gas connected to the horizontal upper wall of that collecting area; and a combustion area for solid fuel provided in said collecting area and extending itself over the full length of this area and consisting of a lower V-shaped plate, two vertically extending side plates and a horizontally extending upper plate, all these plates being positioned at some distance of the corresponding walls of said collecting area, openings being provided in the upper part of the side walls of said combustion area for allowing the combustion gas of the solid fuel to evade towards the discharge conduit.

Abstract: A heater usable for indoor and outdoor use including a body having an upper and a lower portion. The two portions are separated by a grate adapted to support a solid fuel within the upper portion. The lower portion is operable to receive a receptacle for a lighted semi-solid fuel. The heater can be used in two modes, in a high heat output mode in which the solid fuel is first lit by the semi-solid fuel that is then removed or in a lower heat output mode in which the upper solid fuel is dispensed with and the heat is given off by the lower portion semi-solid fuel receptacle only. The upper portion of the heater is selectively closed or opened by a lid to allow heating operation or to provide damping operation when the lid is in its lowered position.

Abstract: A furnace system suitable for independent use and for retrofitting conventional central heating oil furnaces to permit controlled continuous and efficient combustion of fragmented wood type fuels. Wood chips or other fuel fragments are trickle fed into a refractory wood type combustion chamber. For retrofitting an oil furnace the oil burner gun is removed. A flame tube adapter couples the wood type fuel combustion chamber into the oil combustion chamber and heat exchanger plenum of the conventional furnace. The oil burner gun of the retrofitted furnace is used to ignite the wood chips or other fuel fragments during start up. A blower establishes forced draft. The furnace system includes automatic controls for sequencing operation of the elements of the retrofitting furnace system. An independent wood chip furnace system is also described.

Abstract: A refractory lined firebox is encased in a low profile furnace shell of generally rectangular configuration. Mounted on top of the firebox within the furnace shell is a heat exchanger which provides alternating passageways at right angles to one another through which flue gas and air to be heated flow in heat exchange relationship. The heat exchanger and firebox are so related that the axes of the passageways are inclined from the horizontal and the flow through them is generally upward as well as lateral. The furnace includes special combustion air ducts for use in combustion of the solid fuel. The furnace is also equipped with a back-up liquid fuel burner and a control system which activates and operates the liquid fuel burner in response to total consumption or burn out of the solid fuel in the firebox.

Abstract: A furnace is provided which is capable of heating a circulating current of air by heat produced from the combustion of either solid or fluid fuel. The furnace is constructed with two separate combustion compartments and a surrounding chamber for circulation of the air to be heated. By means of temperature sensor and control means, the fluid fuel supply is stopped when adequate heat is being produced from the solid fuel. The furnace is adapted to heat remotely located rooms by means of conduits which transport air heated within said chamber. The room in which the furnace is located is heated by the front of said furnace by radiation and convectively heated contiguous air. The compartment which combusts solid fuel is provided with a door on the rear of said furnace, thereby permitting wood to be entered into said compartment from outside the room or building in which said furnace is situated.

Abstract: The multipurpose heating apparatus comprises a hollow and closed elongated metal casing forming a combustion chamber which is fixedly mounted within a closed insulated elongated housing, with the combustion chamber casing being spaced from the top, side walls and part of the bottom wall of the housing to define an air circulating passageway. Air supply blower means is connected to one end of the air circulating passageway while the other end of the passageway is connected to an air return passage provided in the bottom wall of the housing. The combustion chamber is divided into a solid waste fuel burning zone and into a gas or liquid fuel burning zone. Fuel burned within the combustion chamber transfers heat to the metal casing which radiates the heat into the air circulating passageway.

Abstract: A furnace is provided which is capable of heating a circulating current of air by heat produced from the combustion of either solid or fluid fuel. The furnace is constructed with two separate combustion compartments and an intervening chamber for circulation of the air to be heated. By means of temperature sensor and control means, the fluid fuel supply is stopped when adequate heat is being produced from the solid fuel. The furnace is adapted to heat remotely located rooms by means of conduits which transport said heated air. The room in which the furnace is located is heated by radiation and convectively heated contiguous air.

Abstract: A conventional forced air furnace and an auxiliary wood burning furnace are separately connected directly to hot air distribution and cold air return air ducts. Each furnace has its own air circulating blower and an automatically operable damper valve prevents each furnace from blowing hot air through the other.