Abstract: An oven includes a cooking chamber, a cabinet at least partially surrounding the cooking chamber, and a water reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet. The oven further includes a water fill assembly including an opening, a water-receiving cavity and a fill outlet from the water-receiving cavity, the water fill assembly defining a fluid flow path in from the opening and out through the fill outlet, a check valve in fluid communication with the fill outlet downstream of the fluid flow path defined by the water fill assembly, the check valve configured in a closed state under a force of gravity on at least a portion thereof and opening by a flow force of fluid out of the fill outlet and through the check valve, and a conduit connecting the check valve with the water reservoir inlet downstream of the fill outlet.

Abstract: There is provided a drain recovery system with which power for driving a feedwater pump can be reduced and the feedwater pump can be driven at low costs. The drain recovery system includes: a buffer tank; an assist tank disposed below the buffer tank; a first drain supply line that connects a load device and the buffer tank; a second drain supply line that connects the buffer tank and the assist tank; a drain supply valve; a communication line that establishes communication between the assist tank and the buffer tank; a communication valve; a steam supply line that supplies steam from a boiler to the assist tank; a steam supply valve; a feedwater line that supplies drain from the assist tank to the boiler; and a feedwater pump.

Abstract: A combined solar-wind energy conversion system in which the combined effects of solar and wind energy are utilized in raising water from a lower to an upper water storage tank to increase its potential energy for generation of electricity. Incoming solar energy heats water to form steam which is temporarily stored. The stored steam is vented to one of first and second steam storage tanks from which it is coupled to first and second water pumping tanks. When the water enters one of the water pumping tanks, it forces the water temporarily stored therein to flow upwards the first steam storage tank. As soon as the water pumping tank is emptied, the steam condenses forming a partial vacuum in the tank. The vacuum causes water to be drawn from the lower water storage tank into the corresponding water pumping tank and the process repeated. The second water pumping tank is filled while the first water storage tank is emptied. Water flowing from the first water storage tank turns an electrical generator.