A tankless electric water heater system including a heating chamber having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a heating element connected to the heating chamber, a first temperature sensor disposed near the first end of the heating chamber, a second temperature sensor disposed near the second end of the heating chamber, a flow sensor configured to detect a flow of water and disposed near the heating chamber, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors, the flow sensor, and the heating element. The controller is configured to have a set point temperature, to detect temperature and flow data from the first and second temperature sensors, and the flow sensor, and to provide as output a power setting to the heating element.

The present invention relates to a liquid heating device (10) for a hot beverage machine, comprising: a flow through heater (18, 18); a first tank (12) for receiving liquid (24) to be heated; a second tank (14) for temporarily storing pre-heated liquid (24); a liquid outlet (22) for releasing heated liquid; and a switching unit (20, 20, 20, 20) which is configured to switch a liquid-flow cycle of the liquid heating device (10) between a pre-heating cycle, in which liquid (24) flows from the first tank (12) through the flow through heater (18, 18) and into the second tank (14) in order to temporarily store pre-heated liquid (24) in the second tank (14), and a end-heating cycle, in which the pre-heated liquid (24) flows from the second tank (14) through the flow through heater (18, 18) to the liquid outlet (22).

The present invention relates to a liquid heating device (10) for a hot beverage machine, comprising: a flow through heater (18, 18); a first tank (12) for receiving liquid (24) to be heated; a second tank (14) for temporarily storing pre-heated liquid (24); a liquid outlet (22) for releasing heated liquid; and a switching unit (20, 20, 20, 20) which is configured to switch a liquid-flow cycle of the liquid heating device (10) between a pre-heating cycle, in which liquid (24) flows from the first tank (12) through the flow through heater (18, 18) and into the second tank (14) in order to temporarily store pre-heated liquid (24) in the second tank (14), and a end-heating cycle, in which the pre-heated liquid (24) flows from the second tank (14) through the flow through heater (18, 18) to the liquid outlet (22).

The present invention relates to a heating system for heating a fluid medium, said heating system comprises a carrier unit and a heating unit, with the carrier unit having a surface comprising at least a plane portion being at least substantially normal to a longitudinal axis and an at least part-circularly shaped groove extending from said carrier unit and wound about the longitudinal axis, and the heating unit having a heating element at least partially arranged in said groove of said carrier unit. In the inventive heating system, the groove extends at least partially helically about the longitudinal axis. The present invention further relates to a heated conveyor pump for conveying and heating a fluid medium, said pump comprises a drive unit, a pump housing and the inventive heating system. The heating system is coupled to the pump housing with the groove extending into the pump housing in a manner such that the size of the cross-section of the groove decreases in the flow direction of the conveyed fluid medium.

The present invention relates to a heating system for heating a fluid medium, said heating system comprises a carrier unit and a heating unit, with the carrier unit having a surface comprising at least a plane portion being at least substantially normal to a longitudinal axis and an at least part-circularly shaped groove extending from said carrier unit and wound about the longitudinal axis, and the heating unit having a heating element at least partially arranged in said groove of said carrier unit. In the inventive heating system, the groove extends at least partially helically about the longitudinal axis. The present invention further relates to a heated conveyor pump for conveying and heating a fluid medium, said pump comprises a drive unit, a pump housing and the inventive heating system. The heating system is coupled to the pump housing with the groove extending into the pump housing in a manner such that the size of the cross-section of the groove decreases in the flow direction of the conveyed fluid medium.

A mobile heating system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an enclosure defining a plenum that houses a fan and an internal combustion engine. The heating system also includes a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic pump operably coupled to the internal combustion engine and a first heat exchanger located in the plenum and in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic circuit also includes a hydraulic motor operably coupled to the fan wherein the hydraulic motor is in fluid communication with and driven by the hydraulic pump. A first valve is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the heat exchanger and is configured to restrict fluid flow and to increase a fluid pumping pressure of the hydraulic pump. A second valve is located upstream of the first valve and is configured to selectively direct hydraulic fluid between the first valve and the hydraulic motor.

A mobile heating system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an enclosure defining a plenum that houses a fan and an internal combustion engine. The heating system also includes a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic pump operably coupled to the internal combustion engine and a first heat exchanger located in the plenum and in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic circuit also includes a hydraulic motor operably coupled to the fan wherein the hydraulic motor is in fluid communication with and driven by the hydraulic pump. A first valve is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the heat exchanger and is configured to restrict fluid flow and to increase a fluid pumping pressure of the hydraulic pump. A second valve is located upstream of the first valve and is configured to selectively direct hydraulic fluid between the first valve and the hydraulic motor.

A system and method for monitoring and managing water delivered to users hydraulically connected via a dedicated conduit loop to a water supply source and a water heating unit via a dedicated conduit loop, the system including a mixing valve(s) hydraulically connected to the dedicated conduit loop; a first set of sensing devices operatively coupled to an input and an output of the mixing valve, wherein each sensing device of the first set is adapted to generate and transmit sensed data signals; a recirculation pump hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop; a second set of sensing devices operatively coupled to selected portions of the dedicated conduit loop, wherein each sensing device of the second set is adapted to generate and transmit sensed data signals; a pressure regulating or balancing device(s) hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop; a data collection system for receiving and storing sensed data transmitted by the first set of sensing devices and/or the second set of sensing devices; and a system controller for comparing sensed data with rules, data patterns, data signatures, relationships between data, or mathematically calculated values associated with water event anomalies and generating and transmitting a notification, a warning, and/or an alert if the comparison is suggestive of a water event anomaly.

A system and method for monitoring and managing water delivered to users hydraulically connected via a dedicated conduit loop to a water supply source and a water heating unit via a dedicated conduit loop, the system including a mixing valve(s) hydraulically connected to the dedicated conduit loop; a first set of sensing devices operatively coupled to an input and an output of the mixing valve, wherein each sensing device of the first set is adapted to generate and transmit sensed data signals; a recirculation pump hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop; a second set of sensing devices operatively coupled to selected portions of the dedicated conduit loop, wherein each sensing device of the second set is adapted to generate and transmit sensed data signals; a pressure regulating or balancing device(s) hydraulically coupled to the dedicated conduit loop; a data collection system for receiving and storing sensed data transmitted by the first set of sensing devices and/or the second set of sensing devices; and a system controller for comparing sensed data with rules, data patterns, data signatures, relationships between data, or mathematically calculated values associated with water event anomalies and generating and transmitting a notification, a warning, and/or an alert if the comparison is suggestive of a water event anomaly.

A method of transporting non-volatile bituminous materials from a first location to a second location involves carrying a plurality of irregular bricks formed by the bituminous material in transport chambers carried by vehicles. Bricks are defined by a plurality of non-planar surface, which create gaps between adjacent bricks, and can further include polymer skeletons and other features that help them float. The bricks can travel by land, sea, air, or rail and need not be heated while in transit. Transport chambers have active or preferably passive environmental control systems to circulate cooling air, water, or other substances through the transport chamber and the gaps between adjacent bricks. In a preferred embodiment, ambient air circulates among the bricks during travel by land and ambient water circulates among the bricks during marine travel. The vehicles carrying the transport chambers can be low-emissions or zero-emission vehicles including fuel-cell powered trains and ships.