A continuous reflux reactor and controlled condenser system for thermochemical treatment of plastic and/or elastomeric waste has five zones with different complements. The zones comprises the bottom zone, pyrolysis zone, meeting zone, reflux zone and extraction zone. The reactor uses a reflux zone to increase the production of a light oil in the process. The reflux zone is equipped with some studded tubes that enhances the contact area. Cold molten salt is used as the cooling element of this step. The pyrolysis zone, where the material will be pyrolyzed, has the differential of being equipped with molten salt coils using hot molten salt as the heating element. After the material passes to all zones, the material goes to a cyclone that will condense heavier hydrocarbons present in this step and send the light hydrocarbons to the condensers.

A gas-fired instantaneous water heater including a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and a heat pump that is powered by the TEG to improve efficiency compared to existing water heaters. Water to be heated is circulated through the heat pump, TEG heat exchanger, and primary heat exchanger to produce a stream of heated water. An adjustable firing rate permeable matrix radiant burner is included, in which natural gas and air are combusted to produce combustion products, including heat. The combustion products are condensed in a condensing system to produce cooled and dry exhaust gas.

A water heater may include a water tank, a burner, a pilot for igniting the burner, an ignitor for igniting the pilot, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a flame of the pilot, a controller for controlling an ignition sequence of the pilot using the ignitor, and a rechargeable power storage device for supplying power to the ignitor and the controller. The rechargeable power storage device may be rechargeable using the energy produced by the thermoelectric device. The controller is configured to selectively run only the pilot for at least part of a heating cycle to increase the recharge time of the rechargeable power storage device while still heating the water in the water heater.

A system configured to generate heat when supplied with a first fuel or a second fuel can include a fuel supply line operatively connected to a fuel source. A valve assembly can be operatively connected to the fuel supply line. A main burner can be operatively connected to the valve assembly. A thermoelectric generating system can be configured to transform heat to electricity. A first pilot burner can include at least one of a first thermocouple and a first Fe-ion sensor. A second pilot burner can include at least one of a second thermocouple and a second Fe-ion sensor. A printed circuit board (PCB) can be operatively connected to the valve assembly and the first and second pilot burners. The PCB can be configured to control operation of the valve assembly based on information received from at least one of the first and second pilot burners.

According to some embodiments gas cooking appliances are provided that include at least one burner, an electrode, and a push button unit with a push button for activating the electrode. A gas valve is provided for each burner for regulating gas flow arriving from a gas conduit. An electromagnetic shut-off valve is arranged in the gas conduit and includes a closure member for closing the passage of gas. A control unit controls the shut-off valve. The closure member includes a stable closed position and a stable open position, the closure member changing position upon receiving electric current pulses. The push button unit is configured for pushing the closure member of the shut-off valve to the open position while at the same time activating the control unit and the electrode when the push button is pressed when the gas cooking appliance off. The control unit controls the shut-off valve by means of electric current pulses once the push button has been pressed.

A continuous reflux reactor and controlled condenser system for thermochemical treatment of plastic and/or elastomeric waste has five zones with different complements. The zones comprises the bottom zone, pyrolysis zone, meeting zone, reflux zone and extraction zone. The reactor uses a reflux zone to increase the production of a light oil in the process. The reflux zone is equipped with some studded tubes that enhances the contact area. Cold molten salt is used as the cooling element of this step. The pyrolysis zone, where the material will be pyrolyzed, has the differential of being equipped with molten salt coils using hot molten salt as the heating element. After the material passes to all zones, the material goes to a cyclone that will condense heavier hydrocarbons present in this step and send the light hydrocarbons to the condensers.

Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one alkali metal thermal-to-electricity converter (AMTEC) has a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone, the high pressure zone being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the low pressure zone being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

A continuous reflux reactor and controlled condenser system for thermochemical treatment of plastic and/or elastomeric waste has five zones with different complements. The zones comprises the bottom zone, pyrolysis zone, meeting zone, reflux zone and extraction zone. The reactor uses a reflux zone to increase the production of a light oil in the process. The reflux zone is equipped with some studded tubes that enhances the contact area. Cold molten salt is used as the cooling element of this step. The pyrolysis zone, where the material will be pyrolyzed, has the differential of being equipped with molten salt coils using hot molten salt as the heating element. After the material passes to all zones, the material goes to a cyclone that will condense heavier hydrocarbons present in this step and send the light hydrocarbons to the condensers.

This disclosure provides an apparatus for a portable thermal power station and related methods. The power station includes a burner, a reservoir, an output power plug, and a thermoelectric generator. The burner produces combustible heat across a surface. The reservoir stores a cooling fluid. The output power plug electrically connects to an external device. The thermoelectric generator receives heat energy, converts the heat energy to electrical energy, outputs the converted electrical energy to the external device, and disperses excess heat energy to the reservoir.

A continuous reflux reactor and controlled condenser system for thermochemical treatment of plastic and/or elastomeric waste has five zones with different complements. The zones comprises the bottom zone, pyrolysis zone, meeting zone, reflux zone and extraction zone. The reactor uses a reflux zone to increase the production of a light oil in the process. The reflux zone is equipped with some studded tubes that enhances the contact area. Cold molten salt is used as the cooling element of this step. The pyrolysis zone, where the material will be pyrolyzed, has the differential of being equipped with molten salt coils using hot molten salt as the heating element. After the material passes to all zones, the material goes to a cyclone that will condense heavier hydrocarbons present in this step and send the light hydrocarbons to the condensers.