A portable grill with a battery power system includes a primary direct-current power source and a secondary direct-current power source. The primary power source can connect onto the outside of the grill via a clip. The secondary power source, which can be disposed within the grill so as not to be exposed to outside elements, can continue to power the grill when the user removes and/or replaces the primary power source during the operation of the grill. A user feedback system can remotely alert the user with information regarding the time or power remaining in the primary power source.

A portable grill with a battery power system includes a primary direct-current power source and a secondary direct-current power source. The primary power source can connect onto the outside of the grill via a clip. The secondary power source, which can be disposed within the grill so as not to be exposed to outside elements, can continue to power the grill when the user removes and/or replaces the primary power source during the operation of the grill. A user feedback system can remotely alert the user with information regarding the time or power remaining in the primary power source.

Self-ignited burns can be increased by stimulation. External ignition must often be carried out in the combustion chamber. Often an ignition nucleus is formed electrically. This has energetic disadvantages. Required internals can be disadvantageous. Ignitions with plasma torches also need fixed internals. Electromagnetically, however, the ignition field can be widened, the combustion rate increased and the temperature changed. Due to high electrical consumption, this effective ignition has not yet been advantageous for aerospace applications. This concept should be feasible with low electrical energy requirements.

Sufficient electrical energy can be provided by turbopump, generator or thermocouple. For better coupling of electromagnetism, catalytic absorbers and possibly other particles are used. These lower the activation energy. Contactless ignition can be achieved using ceramics or metallic antennas. Ignition in the center of the combustion chamber at the highest pressures is particularly promising. The aim is to achieve combustion that is as directional as possible.

A system and method for inductive heating of dispersed metallic particles is provided. The method includes: providing a particle-laden flow comprising a carrier phase comprising a carrier fluid and a dispersed phase comprising the dispersed metallic particles; exposing the dispersed metallic particles to a magnetic field for heating the dispersed metallic particles via at least one of hysteresis and Joules heating mechanisms; inductively heating the dispersed metallic particles in the particle-laden flow via the magnetic field; and controlling a flow configuration of the particle-laden flow by adjusting a flow parameter, the flow parameter being any one or more of an induction heating timescale, a particle thermal timescale, a heat diffusion in the carrier phase, and a particle clustering of the dispersed metallic particles.

A system and method for inductive heating of dispersed metallic particles is provided. The method includes: providing a particle-laden flow comprising a carrier phase comprising a carrier fluid and a dispersed phase comprising the dispersed metallic particles; exposing the dispersed metallic particles to a magnetic field for heating the dispersed metallic particles via at least one of hysteresis and Joules heating mechanisms; inductively heating the dispersed metallic particles in the particle-laden flow via the magnetic field; and controlling a flow configuration of the particle-laden flow by adjusting a flow parameter, the flow parameter being any one or more of an induction heating timescale, a particle thermal timescale, a heat diffusion in the carrier phase, and a particle clustering of the dispersed metallic particles.

A lighter device (10) is provided having a handle (12), an ignitable material (14) carried by the handle, a striker material (16) for igniting the ignitable material (14), and a mirror (20) selectively carried by the handle. The mirror (20) can be slideably removable and can be reinserted into the handle of the lighter device (10), allowing for a person to use the mirror (20) as a signaling device. The mirror (20) can be bendable to form a reflective parabolic surface. The handle (12) of the lighter device (10) can be made of a combustible material that can be used to light a fire in wet conditions.

A pre-ignition conduit for a pulverized fuel nozzle includes a duct having first and second opposing end portions, the first end portion configured to face an outlet of an igniter. The conduit further includes a cone-shaped concentrator for collecting and forwarding pulverized fuel into the duct for ignition, the cone-shaped concentrator being secured to the first end portion and located between the outlet of the igniter and the duct. The pre-ignition conduit functions as an ignition chamber within a pulverized fuel nozzle.

A multipurpose solar lighter for conveniently lighting a cigarette, tinder, or other flammable objects, includes a hollow upper part, which further includes an upper elongated piece, a convex lens, and a stopping tab, and a window with an optical filter; and a hollow lower part; such that the upper part connects to the lower part, whereby a cigarette can be inserted into the solar lighter, until it reaches the stopping tab, and is lighted by focused solar light. The upper part can also be used separately to ignite tinder. Furthermore, the solar lighter can include a fire steel surface and a fire striker, and end mounted pivotable thumb tabs for holding the upper and lower parts, when striking the fire steel surface with the fire striker to produce sparks that can light a fire.

A fire starting assembly receives and ignites charcoal and releases the charcoal when its temperature is suitable for cooking. It has a housing that is bound by a perimeter wall with an upper edge defining an upper opening and a lower edge defining a lower opening. A grate, located closer to the lower edge than the upper edge, is pivotally joined to the perimeter wall. The grate, in its closed position, intersects a lumen extending through the housing and through the openings defined by the upper and lower edges to hold charcoal. The grate, in its open position, releases the charcoal. A catch is releasably engaged with the grate to retain the grate in the closed position. The catch is releasable from the grate such that the grate pivots downwardly toward the lower edge and through the lower opening to define an open position.

A charcoal starter for use with charcoal briquettes or hardwood is disclosed. The invention provides improvements directed to both the manufacture and use of charcoal chimneys, specifically the safety and ease of dispersal of lit coal.