An electric steam generating device includes a cast body, a heating element, and a fluid passage. The heating element is at least partially surrounded by the cast body. The fluid passage passes through the cast body and is spaced apart from the heating element. The cast body transfers heat from the heating element to the fluid passage, and the fluid passage includes a first portion having a first size and a second portion having a second size.

A steam supply system having a wet steam source and a steam separator disposed to separated wet steam into dry saturated steam and a saturated condensate. The dry saturated steam is heated in a superheater to produce superheated steam, while the saturated condensate is cooled in a subcooler to produced subcooled condensate with a target temperature selected to prevent immediate evaporation of the subcooled condensate when mixed with the superheated steam. The subcooled condensate is sprayed into a stream of superheated steam using spray nozzles and gradually evaporates downstream of the spray nozzles to produce process steam of a desired % quality. A cooling fluid passing through the subcooler is utilized to cool the saturated condensate. The flow rate of the cooling fluid through the subcooler can be utilized to achieve process steam of a desired % quality.

A steam supply system having a wet steam source and a steam separator disposed to separated wet steam into dry saturated steam and a saturated condensate. The dry saturated steam is heated in a superheater to produce superheated steam, while the saturated condensate is cooled in a subcooler to produced subcooled condensate with a target temperature selected to prevent immediate evaporation of the subcooled condensate when mixed with the superheated steam. The subcooled condensate is sprayed into a stream of superheated steam using spray nozzles and gradually evaporates downstream of the spray nozzles to produce process steam of a desired % quality. A cooling fluid passing through the subcooler is utilized to cool the saturated condensate. The flow rate of the cooling fluid through the subcooler can be utilized to achieve process steam of a desired % quality.

A device for converting a liquid into vapor, having an evaporation surface, a liquid inlet, a heater for heating the evaporation surface, a flow controller, a control unit configured to control a liquid flow rate injected into the liquid inlet, a chamber containing the evaporation surface, and a temperature sensor arranged on the evaporation surface. The control unit is configured to control a heating power of the heater according to a flow rate and to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor according to a predetermined control law. The predetermined control law varies, for each flow rate, non-linearly and inversely proportionally to the difference between a reference temperature of the chamber and the measured temperature.

An aerosol-generating article may comprise a liquid storage portion containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a hydrochromic material provided on the liquid storage portion. The hydrochromic material has a first colour when in the presence of or when in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a second colour when in the absence of or when not in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-generating system may comprise the aerosol-generating article, an aerosol-generating element, and an aerosol-generating device. An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, an electronic photosensor, and a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply based on a value of an optical property sensed with the electronic photosensor.

An installation includes a steam generator and a steam load, wherein the steam load requires a first steam quantity in a normal mode and a second larger steam quantity in the event of a fault, and steam is instantaneously generated by an instantaneous steam generator in order to provide the second steam quantity.

An aerosol-generating article may comprise a liquid storage portion containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a hydrochromic material provided on the liquid storage portion. The hydrochromic material has a first colour when in the presence of or when in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a second colour when in the absence of or when not in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-generating system may comprise the aerosol-generating article, an aerosol-generating element, and an aerosol-generating device. An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, an electronic photosensor, and a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply based on a value of an optical property sensed with the electronic photosensor.

A steam generating device has a handle and a nozzle or pad attached to the handle for treating a surface. The handle includes a heat exchanger, a water reservoir, a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the water reservoir and heat exchanger, and a fluid delivery system for moving water from the water reservoir, through the fluid conduit, and into the heat exchanger. A fuel powered heater is positioned on a side of the wall of the heat exchanger opposite the interior space of the heat exchanger. A first section of the wall of the heat exchanger transfers heat from the heater to water located in the heat exchanger for generating steam from the water located in the heat exchanger. A second section of the wall of the heat exchanger includes an opening that allows steam to exit the heat exchanger and handle and flow through the nozzle or pad.