An exemplary charging energy recapture assembly includes a fluid loop outside a traction battery of an electrified vehicle. The fluid loop communicates a charger fluid through a charger to the electrified vehicle and returns the charger fluid to a charging station without combining the charger fluid with a vehicle fluid. An exemplary charging energy recapture method includes circulating a charger fluid through a charger between a charging station and an electrified vehicle without the charger fluid commingling with a vehicle fluid or communicating through a traction battery of the electrified vehicle.

The present invention relates to a multi-functional convection electric heater, comprising: a heating structure, which comprises a ceramic tubular device and a convection device, used to supply a heating source, and the convection device is connected with the ceramic tubular device, and is used to receive the heat supplied from the ceramic tubular device, and performs subsequent heating in a convection manner; a CMOS sensing device, which is used to capture a surrounding environment to obtain and output a corresponding surrounding environment image; and a homomorphic filtering device, which is connected with the CMOS sensing device, and is used to receive the surrounding environment image, and performs homomorphic filtering to obtain a corresponding homomorphic filtering image, wherein as the noise amplitude of the surrounding environment image gets larger, the intensity of performing the homomorphic filtering will be increased. The present invention enriches the electronic functions of the convection electric heater.

The present invention relates to a multi-functional convection electric heater, comprising: a heating structure, which comprises a ceramic tubular device and a convection device, used to supply a heating source, and the convection device is connected with the ceramic tubular device, and is used to receive the heat supplied from the ceramic tubular device, and performs subsequent heating in a convection manner; a CMOS sensing device, which is used to capture a surrounding environment to obtain and output a corresponding surrounding environment image; and a homomorphic filtering device, which is connected with the CMOS sensing device, and is used to receive the surrounding environment image, and performs homomorphic filtering to obtain a corresponding homomorphic filtering image, wherein as the noise amplitude of the surrounding environment image gets larger, the intensity of performing the homomorphic filtering will be increased. The present invention enriches the electronic functions of the convection electric heater.

A system and method of igniting a coal air-fuel mixture, including a burner having a burner tube operable to carry a flowing mixture of fuel and air to a furnace for combustion therein and a first flow directing device disposed within the tube, operable to direct a first portion of the flowing fuel and air mixture to a location in the burner tube. The system also includes a laser igniter within the burner tube, the laser igniter including a laser tube having a first end with a laser light input and a second end with a light output, and a laser light source operably coupled to the laser light input. The laser light source, including a laser. The laser ignitor directing photons from the light output at the location in the burner tube to ignite at least a part of the first portion of the fuel.

A method of operating a heating and cooling system, including (1) providing a heating/cooling apparatus comprising first and second heat exchangers, (2) providing a conduit module modularly coupled to the heating/cooling apparatus and adapted to be coupled to a plurality of fluid circuits for heating and/or cooling loads, and (3) operating a control system configured to operate the conduit module in a plurality of heating and/or cooling modes. The conduit module is positioned between the heating/cooling apparatus and the plurality of fluid circuits. The conduit module includes first, second, and third supply conduits and first, second, and third return conduits, to convey first, second, and source fluids to and from respective first, second, and source fluid circuits. The conduit module includes first, second, third, and fourth three-way valves to selectively regulate flow of the first, second, and source fluids.

A method of operating a heating and cooling system, including (1) providing a heating/cooling apparatus comprising first and second heat exchangers, (2) providing a conduit module modularly coupled to the heating/cooling apparatus and adapted to be coupled to a plurality of fluid circuits for heating and/or cooling loads, and (3) operating a control system configured to operate the conduit module in a plurality of heating and/or cooling modes. The conduit module is positioned between the heating/cooling apparatus and the plurality of fluid circuits. The conduit module includes first, second, and third supply conduits and first, second, and third return conduits, to convey first, second, and source fluids to and from respective first, second, and source fluid circuits. The conduit module includes first, second, third, and fourth three-way valves to selectively regulate flow of the first, second, and source fluids.

A heat transfer system includes a conduit having open first and second ends, first and second thermal exchange segments disposed in-between and in fluid communication with the ends, and a means for adding fluid to the first end. The first thermal exchange segment is disposed underneath and in thermal communication with the ground, a body of water, or other location with a different temperature. The first and second ends are arranged above all other section of conduit and relative to one another so that they are communicating vessels and a change in fluid level in one changes the fluid level in the other. The means for adding fluid to the first end of the conduit causes fluid to flow freely from the first end to the second end and fluid level to rise in the second overcoming any hydrostatic pressure in the system without a pump disposed along the conduit.

The invention concerns a district energy system comprising: at least one cogeneration or heat pump unit a first pipe system for district heating and/or cooling consisting of at least one liquid or vapor CO.sub.2 pipe; characterized by the fact that is also comprises a second pipe system consisting of at least one fluid line for the transport of CO.sub.2 or O.sub.2. The invention also relates to the use of a district energy system comprising: at least one cogeneration or heat pump unit, a first pipe system, a second pipe system; characterized by the fact that that liquid or vapor CO.sub.2 is used in the first pipe system for district heating and/or cooling and that a fluid of CO.sub.2 or O.sub.2 is used in the second pipe system.

A condensate drain system for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes configured to receive ambient air and fluidly coupled to a drain via a conduit, a valve positioned along the conduit between the plurality of tubes and the drain, where the valve is configured to enable a flow of condensate from within the plurality of tubes toward the drain in an open position and the block the flow in a closed position, and a controller configured to adjust a position of the valve based on feedback indicative of an operational state of the HVAC system.

A heating and cooling system for use with hot, cold and source fluid circuits. A conduit module couples a heating/cooling module with the fluid circuits. The conduit module includes four three-way valves to communicated fluid from and to the fluid circuits to first and second heat exchangers in the heating/cooling module. The first heat exchanger is used to heat a fluid flow and the second one chills a second fluid flow. The conduit module simultaneously supplies a hot fluid flow to a hot fluid circuit and a cold fluid to a cold fluid circuit. The source fluid is routed by the conduit module. A method of circulating fluid is also disclosed.