Abstract: An appliance is provided having a waste receptor module and an energy generation module for converting household waste into energy. The receptor module has a rotary drum with an opening for receiving the household waste and a steam reforming means for converting the waste into synthesis gas. A swing arm is attached adjacent to the opening in the rotary drum and a sealing door is mounted on the swing arm for sealing the opening when the waste receptor module is in operation. An outer door is used to cover the sealing door. The steam reforming means includes a tube mounted within the rotary drum for receiving the volatilized organic waste and an internal heater for heating the organic waste to temperatures to convert the waste into the synthesis gas. The energy generation module has an inlet in fluid communication with the waste receptor module for receiving the synthesis gas and a fuel cell for converting the synthesis gas into electrical energy.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a thin miniaturized reactor for chemical reaction with effective use of heat. The reactor has paired channels formed on a substrate such that the channels extend close to and along each other and are provided with a heat exchanger for efficient heat exchange between the channels. The reactor is produced by forming on substrates the paired channels and heat exchanger and then bonding the substrates together. This manufacturing method is simple and reduces steps.

Abstract: A method, and its associated equipment, for producing synthetic gas by means of an electric arc-activated, non-catalytic burner which utilizes up to three streams of product inputs. A primary spray is heated by an electric arc formed between two electrodes. A second spray is then injected and mixed with the heated primary fluid. The resulting high-temperature, high pressure mixture is combined with a tertiary spray, an oxidant. The end product thereby produced is a synthetic gas, which becomes immediately available for combustion in furnaces, reactors, and other processes in the chemical, petroleum, and metals fabrication industries. The invention overcomes the deficiencies of existing processes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for simultaneously vaporizing a hydrocarbon fluid and water to produce a hydrocarbon fuel gas and steam includes a body member with a smooth surface axial bore having an enlarged end. The non-enlarged portion of the bore receives an elongated thick-walled sleeve having two separate coextensive, interjacent, helical passages formed in its outer surface and positioned in liquid tight engagement with the inner surface of the bore. The first passage communicates with a water inlet and steam outlet at opposite ends of the body member. The second passage is of larger in cross section than the first and communicates at one end with a hydrocarbon fluid inlet on the body member adjacent the water inlet and at its other end with the enlarged bore portion, the latter having a hydrocarbon fuel gas outlet.

Abstract: An oil burner system includes a burner nozzle connected to a supply of fuel oil by a nozzle assembly having integrated therein an electric heater for prewarming the oil fed to the nozzle. The nozzle assembly has first connector at one end directly connected to the burner nozzle and a second connector at its other end directly connected to an oil supply conduit. The preheater comprises an elongated rectangular PTC heating resistor having a pair of parallel sides of greater width than the thickness of the resistor and coextensive electrical contacts extending longitudinally and transversely in electrical engagement with the parallel sides. A pair of parallel flattened thin wall metal conduit sections extend coextensively between the first and second connectors and define thin unimpeded generally rectangular cross section flow path for the oil to be heated.

Abstract: A burner has a gasification chamber (11) without air inlet openings so that the evaporation of fuel takes place essentially without air. A motor (15) drives wipers (17) which distribute the fuel over a heatable wall (19) of a gasification chamber 11 and remove deposits therefrom. A bellows (35) and a ventilator (45) comprise heat barriers between hot portions of the burner and the motor 15.

Abstract: A heating unit preheats and stabilizes No. 2 fuel oil delivered through a conduit to the nozzle of an oil burner for optimizing efficiency of combustion. The heating unit is generally formed around a section of oil conduit or other elongate tubular metal core (18) at least equal to the inside diameter of the oil delivery conduit in which it is to be incorporated. At least one coat or layer (20) of heat conducting electrically insulating porcelain-like cement is formed on the core. A helical heating element or coil (21) of high temperature alloy wire surrounds the layer (20) and core (18). The outside of the coil is covered by an electrical and thermal insulating second layer (22) of refractory-type cement of lower thermal conductivity than the porcelain-like cement. The entire unit may be housed in an elongate box (16) packed with high temperature insulation (27) and with high temperature double insulated lead wires (24, 25, 26) extending into the box from the secondary of a 12-14 volt, 4-7 amp transformer.

Abstract: Apparatus for high temperature catalytic conversion of gases is disclosed in which the first part of the heating is done with a heating gas and the final most difficult part is done with electric heaters. The heating gas is passed between spaced layers of catalyst, out of contact and crosswise and countercurrent to the flow of gases to be converted. The gases are first subjected to preheating with heating gas, then heating as the gases contact catalyst, and then superheating, i.e. heating to a final high temperature, with electric heaters in the absence of heating gas.

Abstract: A compact, economical electrically heated vaporizer having a fast response time and capable of vaporizing liquified petroleum gas at a rate of ten to forty gallons or more per hour with safety and without excessive superheating and/or cracking of the liquified petroleum gas utilizes a metal casting having a closed internal cavity separated into two chambers by an integral barrier. The casting serves as a pressure vessel and heat sink as well as providing a heated interface between electric resistance heaters received in passageways in the barrier and the liquified petroleum gas. The heat generated by the heaters is disseminated uniformly throughout the casting surrounding the chambers. The liquified petroleum gas inlet at one end of the casing connects with the end of one chamber. Multiple small passageways in the barrier at the other end of the casting connect the other end of the one chamber to the adjacent end of the other chamber.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for the vaporization of a mixture of two liquefied gases in chemical equilibrium with a binary compound thereof includes a vertically disposed enclosed vessel having a lower liquid zone to which the mixture to be vaporized is supplied as a liquid from an external supply source and an upper vaporized gas zone from which gas can be removed for use. A vertically disposed heating element, which may be an electric heating element, steam tube, and the like, extends downwardly in the vessel through the vaporized gas zone and terminates above the portion of the liquid zone communicating with the liquid supply and is adapted to supply sufficient heat to vaporize a gaseous mixture from the liquid zone. A housing is disposed about the heating element in spaced relationship thereto and a heat transfer medium is contained within the space.

Abstract: A hot fuel gas generator for an internal combustion engine simultaneously vaporizes gasoline and water in a multi-chambered heated pressure vessel having built in regulators for controlling pressure and volume and delivers the resulting superheated steam and gaseous fuel to the internal combustion engine downstream from the usual carburetor. A single device operating at a very high temperature, for example 1600.degree. F., is used for the simultaneous vaporization of the fuel and water to develop desirable working pressure and volume. The high temperature steam and gaseous fuel positions the fuel molecules at the greatest degree of separation from each other providing the greatest opportunity for contact of the oxygen, the reacting species in the gaseous condition as chemical reactions occur only between particles at the atomic or molecular level and it is necessary for the reacting species to be in actual contact at the time of reaction.

Abstract: A hot fuel gas generator for an internal combustion engine simultaneously vaporizes gasoline and water in a multi-chambered heated pressure vessel having built in regulators for controlling pressure and volume and delivers the resulting superheated steam and gaseous fuel to the internal combustion engine downstream from the usual carburetor. A single device operating at a very high temperature, for example 1800.degree. F., is used for the simultaneous vaporization of the fuel and water to develop desirable working pressure and volume. The high temperature steam and gaseous fuel positions the fuel molecules at the greatest degree of separation from each other providing the greatest opportunity for contact of the oxygen, the reacting species in the gaseous condition as chemical reactions occur only between particles at the atomic or molecular level and it is necessary for the reacting species to be in actual contact at the time of reaction.

Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine of the piston type vaporizes a liquid fuel and water and mixes the resulting gaseous fuel and water vapor with air in a metering valve which communicates with the internal combustion engine. A device operating at a very high temperature, for example 1800.degree. F. is used in the vaporization of the fuel. The high temperature gaseous state of the fuel represents molecules of the greatest degree of separation from each other providing the greatest opportunity for contact of the reacting species in the gaseous condition as chemical reactions occur only between particles at the atomic or molecular level and it is necessary for the reacting species to be in actual contact at the time of reaction. The fuel system therefore enables complete combustion and the elimination of the atmospheric pollutants common in the operation of internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A generator with a reaction chamber containing a catalytic charge for reacting liquid hydrocarbons with an oxygen containing gas to form a fuel gas is ignited by first electrically heating a part of the catalytic charge, preferably a part in front of the exit of the reaction chamber, to above the start up temperature of the catalyst. Then, the heating is terminated and an internal combustion engine which draws a hydrocarbon/air mixture with an air number higher than for normal operation over the hot volume of catalyst is started. The exothermic reaction which sets in there heats up the catalytic charge. Finally, the air number is throttled down and the transition to continuous operation is made.

Abstract: An industrial fuel blender having a vaporizer chamber adapted to be partially filled with a liquid fuel additive, heater means for heating liquid fuel additive in the vaporizer chamber, and a fuel blender housing. A base fuel conduit passes through the fuel blender housing through which gaseous base may flow, and a fuel additive conduit communicates between the vaporizer chamber and the base fuel conduit within the fuel blending housing through which vaporized fuel additive may flow. Means are provided for thermally coupling the fuel blender housing with the vaporizer chamber to inhibit condensation of vaporized fuel additive as it flows through the fuel additive conduit and into the base fuel conduit within the fuel blender housing. Valve means are provided for concurrently controlling the flow of gaseous fuel and vaporized fuel additive in the conduits. A venturi is also provided at the junction of the two conduits for drawing the fuel additive into a flowing stream of the base fuel.

Abstract: Liquid fuel comprising hydrocarbon as its main component, which is in liquid state at normal temperature and pressure, is held in a container of an apparatus for vaporization of the liquid fuel to enable the fuel to be readily converted into a gaseous state for example for cooking purpose.

Abstract: An electrical heating device employs a metallic felt body through which fluid to be heated is passed. The felt may be of polycrystalline metal whiskers, or non-metal whiskers or filaments with metal coating applied. The body is heated by contact with an element that is heated electrically. The fluid flows through the body in a relatively long path compared with the distance through which heat has to be conducted through the body from the element. The body is conveniently a hollow cylinder, the fluid flow being parallel to the axis and the heat being applied from the inner and outer tubes between which the felt body is disposed.

Abstract: A vaporizer-regulator device is which liquid fuel intended for use in an internal combustion engine is vaporized by an electrically energized heating element. The liquid fuel is contained in a reservoir in which a constant fuel level is maintained during operation by inlet and outlet floats. The outlet float senses a rise in fluid level, operating a contact switch, cutting the electrical current to the heating element, and opening a reservoir outlet drain. The inlet float senses a lowering of fuel level and causes fresh fuel to be injected into the reservoir. In this manner, heating element temperature and reservoir fluid level is controlled during engine operation. The liquid fuel is fed by hydrostatic pressure into a vaporizing chamber and brought into contact with the heating element. The dry fuel vapor thus produced is drawn through a two stage control valve into an expansion chamber.

Abstract: A hot fuel gas generator for an internal combustion engine vaporizes gasoline and water in a heated pressure vessel and mixes the resulting superheated gaseous fuel with air in a metering valve which communicates with the internal combustion engine. A single device operating at a very high temperature, for example 1000.degree. F., is used for the simultaneous vaporization of the fuel and water to develop desirable working pressure and volume. The high temperature gaseous state of the fuel represents molecules at the greatest degree of separation from each other providing the greatest opportunity for contact of the reacting species in the gaseous condition as chemical reactions occur only between particles at the atomic or molecular level and it is necessary for the reacting species to be in actual contact at the time of reaction. The fuel gas produced therefore enables complete combustion and the elimination of the atmospheric pollutants common in the operation of internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A fuel converter for a transportation vehicle includes a fuel container for a hydrocarbon fuel, an auxiliary container for water or for an inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiant energy, an electrical power source, and a high temperature fluid-wall reactor.The high temperature fluid-wall reactor has at least one input for the hydrocarbon fuel and for water or the inert fluid, an electrical power input, and an output. Means are provided for metering the hydrocarbon fuel, water or the inert fluid, and electrical power into the appropriate inputs of the reactor. A manifold connects the output of the reactor to a combustion fuel input of the engine of the vehicle. By means of the fuel converter, a variety of low grade and inexpensive hydrocarbon fuels may be converted into combustible mixtures such as carbon black and hydrogen or carbon monoxide and hydrogen which are suitable as fuel for an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator provides hydrogen rich product gases which are mixed with the fuel being supplied to an internal combustion engine for the purpose of enabling a very lean mixture of that fuel to be used, whereby nitrous oxides emitted by the engine are minimized. The hydrogen generator contains a catalyst which must be heated to a pre-determined temperature before it can react properly. To simplify the process of heating up the catalyst at start-up time, either some of the energy produced by the engine such as engine exhaust gas, or electrical energy produced by the engine, or the engine exhaust gas may be used to heat up air which is then used to heat the catalyst.

Abstract: A hot fuel gas generator for an internal combustion engine simultaneously vaporizes gasoline and water in a multi-chambered heated pressure vessel having built in regulators for controlling pressure and volume and delivers the resulting superheated steam and gaseous fuel to the internal combustion engine downstream from the usual carburetor. A single device operating at a very high temperature, for example 1600.degree. F., is used for the simultaneous vaporization of the fuel and water to develop desirable working pressure and volume. The high temperature steam and gaseous fuel positions the fuel molecules at the greatest degree of separation from each other providing the greatest opportunity for contact of the oxygen, the reacting species in the gaseous condition as chemical reactions occur only between particles at the atomic or molecular level and it is necessary for the reacting species to be in actual contact at the time of reaction.