31259 results about "Thermal water" patented technology

PCT No. PCT / NZ95 / 00084 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 28, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 28, 1997 PCT Filed Sep. 14, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 08683 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 21, 1996A solar concentrator for producing usable power as heat and / or electricity uses a self-steering heliostat 1502 to concentrate solar radiation 1509 onto an absorbing surface such as, or including, a solar cell array 1511 capable of absorbing power from the radiation, meanwhile removing heat (such as from long-wave infra-red radiation or resistive losses) from the surface with fluid heat transfer means 1503, 1504, then making effective use of that low-grade heat. Thus the solar cell array is kept relatively cool and a larger proportion of the solar energy incident on the reflector unit is used. The invention uses electricity 1506 from the solar cells to move a transporting fluid through a heat exchanger 1504. Excess electricity may be available for local storage or use 1510, or feeding 1512 to the power distribution grid. Applications include warming swimming pools 1501, heating hot-water supplies using excess electricity, or warming, lighting and ventilating open spaces.

What has been created is a plurality and a variety of processes and a variety of devices correspondingly supportive to each process, wherein, a new partnership between; (1) a heat absorbing radiator compressed air pipes / tubes and (2) a gas turbine engine or a reciprocating piston engine,—is used to recapture and reconvert the, otherwise wasted, heat energies expelled by engines, by factories, by smelting plants, by distillation plants, by chillers / coolers / freezers, by cooking ovens, by lamps / stoves, by trash burners, and the heat energies created by the solar heat on the desert / ocean water,—into electric power and finally into hydrogen-deuterium fuel,—by having the engine's tailpipes submerged in cold compressed air inside the heat absorbing radiator pipes in reverse air flow, to further drive and re-drive the same engine; wherein, in order to capture fusion heat energy the hydrogen bomb is detonated in the deep ocean to catch the flames by the water and the hot water is used to energize the compressed air inside the heat absorbing radiator pipes; wherein, in order to produce fusion energy, an abundant electric arc is passed across liquid deuterium or across gaseous deuterium by the electro-plasma torch and sparkplug in the internal combustion engine, and by detonating a dynamite inside a liquid deuterium; wherein diamond is produced by placing carbon inside the hydrogen bomb; and wherein, deuterium fusion flame is used first in smelting glass to large sizes before running an engine.

A device and method is provided for automatically controlling the heating element(s) of an electric hot water heater to minimize electric energy consumption over a prolonged time period by projecting the future need for hot water based on it's use in prior time periods as well as by monitoring the use of hot water during current periods. The device saves energy by switching the heater "off" during times when the projected and current need for hot water is low or nonexistent thereby reducing the tank temperature and therefore energy losses to the ambient, while detecting the instantaneous requirement for hot water through utilization of a flow sensor arrangement, one of which is the utilization of thermistors on the exit pipe and on the tank or body of the heater. The device leaves all existing controls intact and may be adapted by end users to existing heaters or by manufacturers of original equipment (OEMs).

A water faucet assembly providing touchless water temperature and water flow adjustment. The assembly comprises a spout, a water mixing valve, at least one proximity sensor, and a microcomputer. The water mixing valve provides a mix and controls the flow of hot water from a hot water supply and cold water from a cold water supply to the spout. The at least one proximity sensor provides a water temperature or water flow input signal having a value corresponding to the distance of an object from the sensor. The microcomputer is responsive to the value of the water temperature input signal to control the water mixing valve and generate a mixture of the hot and cold water corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor. The microcomputer is also responsive to the value of the water flow input signal to provide a flow of water from the spout corresponding to the distance of the object from the proximity sensor.

A cleaning and disinfecting system for the cleaning and disinfecting of footwear or feet. The system provides for cleaning and disinfecting the bottom of the feet or footwear. An optional brush on a wand provides cleaning to upper foot areas as required. The system is automatically activated only when a person stands on the device, thereby minimizing the volume of fluid required to perform the process. Optionally, a venturi component allows the addition of a cleaning or disinfecting fluid with the cleaning solution or water. When the system is attached to a hot water line and fitted with heating elements, it can be used to remove snow from shoes and boots.

A beverage preparing machine that includes reservoirs for storing a quantity of powdered drink mix, such as a powdered baby formula mix, and a volume of water, a water dispensing mechanism that includes a heating element for dispensing a given volume of heated water into a mixing nozzle and a powdered drink mix dispensing assembly for simultaneously dispensing a volume of powdered drink mix into the mixing nozzle. The mixing nozzle having a dispensing opening for filling a container such as a baby bottle.

The present invention provides a novel process for extraction, purification and concentration of polyphenol substances from whole grapes, grape seeds and grape pomace without the need for membrane filtration. Aspects of several embodiments of the novel processes include hot water extraction, a dual pH treatment of the hot water extracts, and the uses of a copolymer of trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate as an adsorbent resin to maximize the concentration and purification of the beneficial polyphenolic substances.

The invention discloses a method for recovering the waste heat of a thermal power plant and heating and supplying heat to hot water in a stepping way. In the method, low-temperature heat-net return water is firstly mixed with circulating cooling water positioned on an outlet of a cooling condenser or exchanges heat with the circulating cooling water positioned on the outlet of the cooling condenser to be increased in temperature and then sequentially delivered into an each-step vapour absorption type heat pump and a vapor-water heat exchanger in a series connection way to be gradually heated to be increased in temperature to heat supplying temperature and finally discharged through a water supplying pipeline; the circulating cooling water absorbs the waste steam condensation heat of a steam turbine in the cooling condenser, then one path of the circulating cooling water is directly mixed with the low-temperature heat-net return water or heats the low-temperature heat-net return water through the heat changer, the other path of the circulating cooling water is delivered into an each-step absorption type heat pump unit to be used as a low-order heat source of the absorption type heat pump unit, and the redundant heat of the circulating cooling water is discharged to the environment through a cooling tower. The invention uses the steam extraction of the steam turbine as a driving heat source of the absorption type heat pump so that the low-temperature heat-net return water is heated in a stepping way, thereby reducing the effective energy loss; the waste heat of the discharged steam of the steam turbine is sufficiently recovered in a direct heating way and an absorption type heat pump temperature increasing heating way, therefore, the comprehensive energy usage efficiency of the thermal power plant is enhanced.

The present invention relates to a vapor heating type cooking apparatus cooking food materials using high pressure vapor as a heat source. A vapor heating type cooking apparatus includes: a vapor supply section generating the high pressure vapor; a vapor supply pipe and a vapor discharge pipe for introducing and discharging the high pressure vapor; a body section including a vapor introduction opening connected to the vapor supply pipe, an interior space having a dual structure so as to circulate the high pressure vapor in the caldron in which food materials are accommodated, a vapor discharge opening provided between the interior space and the vapor discharge pipe; a cooling water supply pipe and a hot water discharge pipe; a lid section including a cooling water introduction opening connected to the cooling water supply pipe, a storage space having a dual structure, in which the cooling water is temporarily stored, and a hot water discharge opening provided between the storage space and the hot water discharge pipe; and a control section for controlling introduction and discharge of the high pressure vapor, the cooling water, and the hot water.

A method includes diluting a bitumen source, such a bitumen froth from a hot water extraction process, with a hydrocarbon diluent such as naphtha, contacting the bitumen with a zone settling aid such as a polyoxyalkylate block polymer, flocculating water and fine solids in the diluted bitumen, separating the flocculated water and fine solids from the solvent-diluted bitumen, and producing dry, clean diluted bitumen. Preferably, the diluted bitumen will have less than 1.0 wt % water, but most preferably less than 0.7 wt % water. The method may further comprise maintaining the diluted bitumen under conditions that avoid the precipitation of asphaltenes from the bitumen, preferably such that the dry, clean diluted bitumen comprises essentially all, such as greater than 96%, of the asphaltene content from the bitumen source. Counter-current flow may be performed in a series of zone settling stages, such as with gravity settling.

The invention relates to a central heating system with large temperature difference, which belongs to the energy field. The system comprises a steam turbine, a condenser, a steam absorption heat pump, a steam-water heat exchanger, a hot water absorption heat pump, a water-water heat exchanger as well as a connecting pipe and accessories. The invention is characterized in that the temperature difference of the heat net supply is large, and is about one time higher than the conventional heat net operation, thus the transmission capacity of the heat net is greatly increased, and at the same time, no heat preservation and thermal stress compensation problems exist as the backwater temperature of the heating is low, thereby reducing the investment of the backwater pipeline network and the whole pipeline network; the steam turbine is utilized to discharge steam and preheat the backwater of the large heat net, and circulating cooling water is utilized to be taken as the low level heat energy of the absorption heat pumps. The invention has the advantages that the residual heat produced in the electricity generating process of a power plant is recycled to the greatest extent as much as possible, the combination mode of the hot water absorption heat pump and the water-water heat exchanger is adopted at the end to heat the hot water of the secondary heat net supply, and the temperature difference of the supply-water and the backwater of the large heat net are increased, at the same time, the heat net does not need external energy to be the driving force.

A fault detection system for use with a solar hot water system may include a data acquisition module which may, in turn, include a plurality of sensors. Input data may include a sensed condition. The system may also include a neural network to receive the input data which may be a multi-layer hierarchical adaptive resonance theory (ART) neural network. The neural network may perform an analysis on the input data to determine existence of a fault or a condition indicative of a potential fault. The fault and the condition indicative of the potential fault are prioritized according to the analysis performed by the neural network. A warning output relating to the fault and the condition indicative of the potential fault is generated responsive to the analysis, and is displayed on the user interface.

A heated water dispensing apparatus has been described. The heated water dispensing apparatus includes a reservoir for retaining a quantity of water, a selector for selecting a temperature of water and a volume of water to be dispensed, and a controllable dispense valve for automatically dispensing water from the reservoir. The heated water dispensing apparatus also includes a weighing assembly which generates a weight control signal relating to the volume of water dispensed through the dispense valve and at least one device outlet valve for providing heated water to a remote device. The heated water dispensing apparatus also includes a controller. The controller operates the dispense valve in accordance with the weight control signal so that a selected volume of water is automatically and accurately dispensed. The controller also operates the dispense valve to prevent dispensing of water through the dispense valve before water of a selected temperature has been produced. The controller operates the device outlet valve so that a predetermined quantity of water at a predetermined flowrate and a predetermined temperature is dispensed to a selected remote device.

A polyester-surfaced heat-shrinkable multilayer film exhibiting good printability and adaptability to various automatic packaging processes is provided, including an outer surface layer (a) comprising a polyester resin, an intermediate layer (b) comprising a polyamide resin and an inner surface layer (c) comprising a sealable resin. The film exhibits a heat-shrinkable stress at 50° C. of at most 3 MPa both in longitudinal direction and in transverse direction, and a hot water shrinkability at 90° C. of at least 20%.

A process for the thermo-hydraulic control of gas hydrates in subsea production and injection wells as well as pipelines which transport liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons is described, the process making use of a Nitrogen Generating System foamed or in solution. The control may signify the prevention of the formation of the gas hydrates or the dissolution of the gas hydrate plug already formed. Under conditions of use designed for the prevention of the formation of gas hydrates the SGN fluid prevents the thermal conditions leading to the gas hydrate plugs. Under conditions of use designed to dissolve the already formed gas hydrate plugs, the SGN fluid alters the thermo-hydraulic conditions which favor the gas hydrate plugs, so that they are dissolved and return to the water+gas phase.

The invention provides a surface protection process used for long-time corrosion prevention and rust prevention. The process comprises the following process flow: sandblasting: performing surface blasting of brown steel shot on a valve body after heat treatment; pretreatment: cleaning to remove impurities such as oil stains, oxides, or water scales on the surface of the valve body by utilizing analkaline cleaning liquid; cleaning: rinsing chemical substances remaining on the surface of the valve body with clean water; plating solution preparation: preparing a plating solution according to a ratio of 5% to 14% of phosphorus content; preheating: putting the valve body in hot water to be preheated so that the temperature of a workpiece is close to the temperature of the plating solution; plating: putting the preheated workpiece into the plating solution for plating; treatment after plating: after the plating is completed, cleaning, air drying and storing the workpiece sequentially withinone hour. The surface protection process provided by the invention can delay the premature rust and corrosion of the valve body in the use process, and prolong the service life of the valve body to 20 to 30 hours.

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage obtained by supplying hot water within the capsule under pressure and releasing the beverage from the capsule. The capsule includes a food substance therein, a first surface adapted to be traversed by a flow of water entering the capsule, and a second surface adapted to be traversed by a flow of beverage exiting the capsule. The second surface is adapted to deform outwardly upon action of the inside water pressure thereon. Also, that surface includes at least one opening member capable of deforming inwards the capsule upon a mechanical reaction force applied from outside onto the closure member as a result of the deformation of the second surface due to the build-up of the inside pressure.

An oxygen enriched boiler having a burner subassembly and a steam subassembly is disclosed. The burner subassembly has a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet, a combustion chamber, a flue gas composition detector and a flue gas outlet. The fuel inlet provides fuel to the combustion chamber, the oxidant inlet provides an oxygen-enriched inlet stream to the combustion chamber, the combustion chamber burns the fuel and the flue gas composition detector measures at least one characteristic of the flue gas. The steam subassembly has a supply water inlet, a heat exchange zone, a water drum, a steam quality actuator and a steam outlet. The supply water inlet provides feed water to the heat exchange zone, the heat exchange zone transfers heat generated by combustion of the fuel to the water to generate steam, the water drum receives the heated water and steam from the heat transfer zone and maintains the water and steam at a selected steam pressure and water level, and the steam quality actuator regulates at least one characteristic of the steam. Flue gas characteristics, as well as other boiler performance variables, are monitored. At least one controller actuates on the oxidant injections to control combustion. The controller calculates the optimum oxidant distribution in real-time for a series of injection points to minimize undesired flue gas emissions while maintaining the desired steam conditions and boiler operating conditions.

A system enabling the performance of ecologic cooking of food, wherein a first ambient of heat tempered by humidity is built up, containing the food and being uniformly tempered from a second ambient consisting of hot water and / or steam, said device comprising an external container and its cover provided with a device for facilitating the regulation of aeriform fluids and / or steam, within said container there is an interchangeable internal container as an accessory in which food to be cooked is placed, the container and cover are fastened together by a semi-hermetic closing system, said cover having the regulation device for outlet of the aeriform fluid; the internal container is hanging, on at least one point, inside the external container permitting the isolation of food from red-hot metal, so that the food placed in said interchangeable internal container or first ambient of heat tempered by humidity are cooked by effect of heat produced from a second ambient consisting of water and / or steam, the second ambient being external to the first ambient of heat tempered by humidity, said ambients may be or may not be in communication between each other.

A thermal reservoir for a two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system is disclosed. Said thermal reservoir includes a well-insulated tank for alternatively storing hot and cold water. Said thermal reservoir contains plurality of valves for directing hot water stored therein into the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system, thereby causing cold water within the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system to be displaced therefrom and into well insulated storage tank. Said process is fully reversible in that cold water displaced from the two-pipe hydronic air-condition system into said thermal reservoir may be subsequently directed from the thermal reservoir and restored to the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system and hot water therefrom directed back into storage. Accordingly a two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system may be switched between heating and cooling modes with rapidity and without waste of the energy content of said hot water and said cold water.

A system and method for cooling and heating of buildings consisting of an integrated assembly of devices, including a variable speed air handler, hot water heating coil, outside air damper, controller, and optional compressor-based air conditioner. During summer the system utilizes nighttime outside air for cooling and uses air temperature predictions to provide information about optimal control settings and to maintain comfort. During winter the system varies airflow with heating demand and ventilates with outside air to maintain indoor air quality.

A method of disinfection of a dead-ended fluid line in a medical instrument such as a dialysis machine is described. The method comprises introducing a heated fluid into the fluid line, allowing the fluid to remain in the line for an experimentally determined optimal dwell period, removing the fluid from the fluid line, and then repeating the cycle for a time period sufficient to achieve a disinfection of the fluid line. The optimum dwell period and frequency for exchanging the heated fluid is determined so that the heated fluid is left resident in the line to exert a cidal effect but not so long that the it cools to the point of being ineffective, nor changed so frequently that that the time spent with no hot water resident in the line begins to detract (e.g., unduly prolong) the disinfection process. A representative cycle is introducing water at a temperature of about 85 degrees C, allowing it to reside in the fluid line for about 10 seconds, withdrawing the water, and then reintroducing water at 85 degrees C. The process continues for 1-2 hours. Variation from the representative cycle will be expected based on parameters such as the degree to which disinfection is to be achieved, the length and diameter of the fluid line, the temperature of the fluid, the ambient temperature, the presence of elements in the fluid line that contribute to heat loss, the material used for fluid line tubing, and whether the fluid comprises water or a disinfection solution such as a dilute citric acid solution. The optimum dwell period and frequency of the cycles can be determined experimentally from the teachings described herein.

An improved water heater for use in spas, hot tubs, pools, hydrotherapy pools, bath tubs, and similar bodies of water used indoors, outdoors, or both indoors and outdoors are used for both therapeutic and recreational purposes. The water heater uses heating element technology know as thick film on substrate comprising resistive elements bonded to the outer dry surface of a pipe to heat the pipe which in turn heats the water flowing therethrough. The heater is highly efficient due to the direct contact of the wet heating surface with the water and provides a smooth seamless inner heating surface by eliminating the need to pass electrical leads into the wet region of the heater. This virtually eliminates the risk of leaks in the water heater due to bulkhead fittings. The invention further eliminates the need for a heating element to be contained in the inner wet region of a spa heater, thereby reducing the risk of corrosion. The water heater is used in combination with an electronic controller having a microprocessor to control and regulate the operation of the water heater. The water heater can be used with electrical, electro-mechanical, and mechanical control systems for spas and can be retrofitted into existing spa applications.

A beverage dispenser for brewing a beverage from a container of brewable material into a receptacle. The beverage dispenser may include a source of hot water, a nozzle for injecting the hot water into the container such that the hot water flows through the container and a brewed beverage flows into the receptacle, a source of a secondary fluid, and a valve for flowing the secondary fluid into the receptacle so as to mix the secondary fluid with the brewed beverage.

A control system for an electric water heater having an upper heating element and a lower heating element is disclosed. The control system includes a control module that controls operation of the electric water heater by selectively toggling the upper and lower heating elements between an ON state and an OFF state and a consumer interface module that allows a consumer to input a set point temperature and select an energy savings mode for the electric water heater. The control module regularly monitors hot water usage and adjusts the set point temperature by a predetermined setback amount until a capacity of the water heater matches consumer usage.

A method and apparatus for repairing a submerged pipeline. The method comprises installing a pair of hot tap tees on either side of the damaged section of pipeline, cutting a hole in the pipeline through each hot tap tee, inserting and securing plugging pigs into the pipeline, cutting and removing the damaged section of pipeline, and installing a new section of pipeline. The apparatus includes a plugging pig for use during repair of a damaged pipeline comprising a body shaft, a cup seal secured to the body shaft for engaging an interior wall of the pipeline, a cam attached to the exterior of the body shaft, a slip assembly for sliding on the cam and engaging a slip against the pipeline wall, and a control mechanism for engaging and releasing the slip from the wall.

A process for extracting aluminum oxide from powdered coal ash includes such steps as grinding, calcining, mixing with H2SO4 solution, heating while reaction for extracting aluminum oxide, boiling in water, concentrating, cooling while educing out aluminum sulfate crystals, heating for dewatering, heating for decomposing to obtain gamma-Al2O3, and further preparing metallurgy-class aluminum oxide.