Abstract:
A thermal treatment system for supplying thermally conditioned or purified water for human or animal consumption, industrial processes, environmental containment, or removal of foreign species. The water purifier includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between outgoing thermally conditioned or purified water and incoming makeup water; a water heater is connected to the heat exchanger so as to receive pre-heated incoming makeup water, where the water heater subsequently heats the incoming preheated makeup water to a set-point temperature in the case of thermally conditioned water and for purified water also holds the water for a period of time sufficient to inactivate selected organisms to a predetermined level. The heat exchanger has one or more treated water outlets for supplying thermally conditioned or purified water at selected temperatures.
Abstract:
A single system for providing heated water at two different temperature levels for space heating purposes and for domestic water heating purposes is provided. The system can be constructed using only one burner. The system features a first loop for circulating domestic hot water at a lower temperature from an insulated tank, through a first heat exchanger where the water is heated, and back into the insulated tank. The system also features a second loop for circulating space heating water at a different temperature through a second heat exchanger, where the water is cooled, through the first heat exchanger, where the water is heated, and back to the second heat exchanger, where the water is again cooled. A single diverter valve or equivalent is used to determine which heating loop is required and will be activated.
Abstract:
An efficient solar collector that uses a collector panel formed of strips similar to conventional aluminum siding includes air distribution channels along opposite edges of the collector panel. These air distribution channels are formed of enlarged collector panel strips and form headers. Openings are formed through the wall on which the siding is mounted adjacent each of these channels so air from the interior of the building may flow through one or more lower openings into one of the channels, then through the space between the exterior side of the wall and the panel into the other channel, and through the other openings to return to the interior of the building. The air is heated indirectly by the solar radiation impinging on the collector panel as the air flows through the space between the wall and the panel. To increase the efficiency of the collector, a blower can be installed in one of the openings to increase the air flow through the collector.
Abstract:
A flue restrictor for installation in the flue piping of a heating system to reduce its effective cross sectional area comprises sheet metal inlet and outlet sections having flanges secured together in a joint that has a guideway in it for a sheet metal gate valve that may be transversely positioned to produce the desired cross-sectional area and riveted in place to provide a substantially tamper-proof assembly.
Abstract:
A pressure operated injection device supports an ampul containing a plunger. A ram which actuates the plunger is spring biased to a retracted position and is advanced by a gas under pressure. A source of gas under pressure is connected by a passage to a gas accumulating chamber which in turn is connected by a passage to the ram with a valve being provided in each passage. The valves admit gas to the ram from the accumulating chamber at a predetermined pressure and simultaneously prevent the admission of any further gas from the source of gas and, at a substantially lower pressure, close the passage connecting the accumulating chamber and the ram. The device is constructed to exhaust gas to the atmosphere from the ram as it retracts and a manually controlled valve controlling the flow of gas from the source to control the operation of the device.
Abstract:
A gas appliance, flue assembly, or vent adapter including an adjustable flow regulator which regulates the proportions and volume of dilution air and combustion products into the vent is disclosed. The flow regulator can be adjusted to allow a given appliance to exhaust vent gases through a range of different venting systems constructed from a wide range of materials. The appliance installer may adjust the appliance vent gases for a particular pre-existing or installed vent. The flow regulator also provides flow resistance which helps prevent backdrafting and the free escape of dilution air (which may be heated room air in some instances) through the vent to the outside atmosphere.
Abstract:
A heat pump system selectively operable in cooling and heating modes of operation and having a combustion prime mover which produces refrigerant vapor compression and which produces combustion heat in greater amounts than usable energy for motive power, provided with a first heat exchanger that evaporates compressed refrigerant in the system heating mode of operation and with a first radiator means which transfers excess prime mover heat to a working fluid, and with a working fluid distribution means selectively operable to proportionately flow the heated working fluid to the first radiator in convective heat exchange relations to the first heat exchanger means, in the system heating mode of operation, to provide defrost capabilities and especially to improve heat pumping capacity at low ambient temperatures.
Abstract:
For collection, retrieval, and utilization of solar energy, there is taught a process and an apparatus wherein a photochemical fluid, containing an isomerizable compound, is passed through a collector for exposure to solar radiation to transform the isomerizable compound to a higher energy level isomer. The irradiated fluid leaving the collector passes in heat exchange relationship with photochemical fluid entering the collector and then proceeds into a trigger reactor means. In the trigger reactor means, higher energy level isomer in the irradiated fluid is triggered, such as by heat and/or catalyst contact, to revert to an isomerizable composition of a lower energy level isomer with exothermic release of heat in excess of that requisite for maintaining conversion of higher energy level isomer to lower energy level isomer. The trigger reactor means is positioned in close proximity and/or desirably contiguous to or an integral portion of another heat exchanger through which is flowed a material adapted for storage at an elevated temperature to receive that exothermic heat excess being released upon the higher to lower energy level isomer conversion. The photochemical fluid, after passage through the trigger reactor means and the another heat exchange means, proceeds to and through the first exchange means for passage to the collector and repetition of the just-described procedural sequence. The storable material exiting from the another heat exchanger is of elevated temperature with a sensible heat content thereof available for usage, after storage immediately, in manners known to the art for utilizing heated material in useful applications such as residential hot-water supplying and residential heating and cooling.
Abstract:
A gas appliance, flue assembly, or vent adapter including an adjustable flow regulator which regulates the proportions and volume of dilution air and combustion products into the vent is disclosed. The flow regulator can be adjusted to allow a given appliance to exhaust vent gases through a range of different venting systems constructed from a wide range of materials. The appliance installer may adjust the appliance vent gases for a particular pre-existing or installed vent. The flow regulator also provides flow resistance which helps prevent backdrafting and the free escape of dilution air (which may be heated room air in some instances) through the vent to the outside atmosphere.
Abstract:
A vent device is provided for common venting of exhaust gases discharged from separate apparatus at different vent pressures. The vent device provides a passageway and exhaust gas inlets for combining the exhaust gases and conveying them to a single vent stack. The higher vent pressure exhaust gases are discharged within the passageway using a venturi or jet pump effect to provide a zone of reduced pressure in the passageway for inducing the flow of the lower vent pressure exhaust gases into the device.