A device for controlling a combustible gas supply to a heating apparatus burner includes: a valve with a respective valve seat which is associated with a corresponding closure member provided with a respective control rod for opening the valve seat, a system for amplifying movement of the control rod which has a snap-fit spring which acts on the rod and a pushing element which in turn acts on the spring, a first end of a lever acts on the pushing element which is hinged at a fulcrum location which is positioned at an opposing second end of the lever, actuator which moves the lever, operationally associated with the lever in a position between the opposing lever ends to control the lever about the fulcrum location resulting in movement of the closure member away from and towards the valve seat, the actuator comprising a linear actuator element with converse piezoelectric effect.

A system and a method is described for remotely controlling gas consumption by a power vented gas-fired water heater to reduce consumption of gas by a consumer connected to a gas distribution bank network of a gas provider during overload periods where gas demand is at a peak. The system comprises a consumer controller in communication with the gas provider whereby the controller can operate a modulating gas control valve either directly or through the control of the fan speed of a power vented blower to reduce the supply of gas to the burner of the gas-fired water heater when asked by the provider to do so. Temperature sensors are associated with the water holding tank of the gas-fired water heater to feed water temperature signals to a computer of the controller whereby to enable the controller to execute informed corrective action for the reduction in gas consumption by regulating the gas control valve to reduce the supply of gas to the burner of the water heater.

A burner tip apparatus which is resistant to plugging, and a staged air method of operation which reduces the peak temperature of the flame of the burner tip to provide low levels of NO.sub.x and other emissions. The burner tip can be used as an auxiliary burner tip for stabilizing a main burner flame, or for other purposes.

A quick-disconnect gas pipeline comprises a quick-disconnect device (QDD) which comprises a QDD male end and a QDD female end, and a gas hose. The QDD male end is connected to the gas pipeline inside the heating system and the QDD female end is connected to the gas hose outside the heating system. When the heating system is not used, it is easy to disconnect the QDD to prevent people from tripping over the long gas pipeline.

Techniques determine if a gas service (e.g., piping and/or meter) is under-sized for the customer's needs. In one example, flowrate information corresponding to gas usage at a service site over a first period of time is obtained. The flowrate information is disaggregated to determine an expected flowrate associated with each of two or more appliances having generally fixed-rates of gas consumption. Flowrate information is again obtained, corresponding to a second period of time. The second flowrate information is compared to one or more combinations (i.e., summations) of the expected flowrates associated with each of the two or more appliances. Based on the comparison, it may be determined that the service site is not appropriately sized. In an example, failure to detect two fixed-rate of gas-consumption appliances operating at their respective fixed-rates at the same time may indicate that the service cannot provide gas at a sufficient flowrate.

A gas manifold allows each distribution chamber to be fed with fuel gas at an appropriate flow rate irrespective of an increase in the number of distribution chambers included in the gas manifold. Fuel gas flowing through in an inlet is distributed to a plurality of distribution chambers through a main channel. A bypass channel parallel with the main channel also feeds fuel gas to a maximum distribution chamber. This can prevent the feeding of the fuel gas to the maximum distribution chamber from being affected by and reduced by the feeding of the fuel gas to the bypassed distribution chambers. This also prevent the feeding of the fuel gas to the other distribution chambers from being affected by and reduced by the feeding of the fuel gas to the maximum distribution chamber. The plurality of distribution chambers are thus fed with fuel gas at appropriate flow rates.

A gas manifold allows each distribution chamber to be fed with fuel gas at an appropriate flow rate irrespective of an increase in the number of distribution chambers included in the gas manifold. Fuel gas flowing through in an inlet is distributed to a plurality of distribution chambers through a main channel. A bypass channel parallel with the main channel also feeds fuel gas to a maximum distribution chamber. This can prevent the feeding of the fuel gas to the maximum distribution chamber from being affected by and reduced by the feeding of the fuel gas to the bypassed distribution chambers. This also prevent the feeding of the fuel gas to the other distribution chambers from being affected by and reduced by the feeding of the fuel gas to the maximum distribution chamber. The plurality of distribution chambers are thus fed with fuel gas at appropriate flow rates.

Cooktop appliances are provided. A cooktop appliance can include a gas burner; a manifold having a gas input; a primary line extending between the manifold and the gas burner, wherein the primary line operates as a non-modulated minimum gas flow line when the cooktop appliance is in an automatic mode; a secondary line extending between the manifold and the gas burner, wherein a gas flow rate of the secondary line is controllable by a flow control valve; a primary valve in fluid communication with at least the primary line; and a control system including: a sensor configured to detect a temperature corresponding to the gas burner; and a controller regulating: (i) the flow control valve in response to the detected temperature to achieve a desired temperature, and (ii) the primary valve when the flow control valve is closed and the detected temperature exceeds the desired temperature.

A system comprises a gas turbine engine including a compressor, combustor, gas turbine, the combustor including a plurality of late lean fuel injectors; and wash system configured to be attached to and in fluid communication with the a plurality of late lean fuel injectors of the combustor. The wash system includes a water source supplying water; a first fluid source supplying a first fluid; a mixing chamber in communication with the water source and first fluid source; a water pump to pump water to the mixing chamber; a first fluid pump to pump the first fluid to the mixing chamber; a fluid line in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and at least one of the plurality of late lean fuel injectors so fluid from the mixing chamber is injected into the combustor at late lean fuel injectors. The wash system is operated with the gas turbine engine off-line.

This invention relates to portable heating systems that utilize a portable fuel source. Portable heating systems of the invention generally include a regulator that is configured to vaporize fuel released from a cartridge and to transfer the vaporized fuel to a burner for ignition.