A direct high voltage flow-through water heater system transmits high voltage power to a remote ice penetrating robot, converts the power to heat in a very small space, and then uses the heat to melt the ice, providing a path ahead of the robot allowing penetration deeper into a remote ice-covered location, such ice of substantial (e.g., kilometers) thickness, such as, for example, glacial ice caps. High voltage, low current, AC power is passed through a moving conducting fluid, inducing resistive heating in the fluid with 100% efficiency. The exiting fluid is stripped of common mode voltage before exiting. Energy transfer from the electrical source to the fluid is instantaneous and occurs at 100% efficiency. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid heater system operates at standard residential/industrial mains voltages and runs from 220 VAC as other applications of the present invention include the traditional water heater industry as well.

A method of controlling a proportional solenoid valve whose valve opening degree is controlled by excitation of a proportional solenoid includes: generating a driving current (id) that excites a proportional solenoid (28); reversing a polarity of the driving current (id) at a cycle faster than movement of a valve body (18); and controlling the valve opening degree by a current level of the driving current (id). As a result, an alternating magnetic field is generated in the proportional solenoid so that a desired valve opening degree is obtained by the driving current level while obviating the influence of the residual magnetism.

A method of controlling a proportional solenoid valve whose valve opening degree is controlled by excitation of a proportional solenoid includes: generating a driving current (id) that excites a proportional solenoid (28); reversing a polarity of the driving current (id) at a cycle faster than movement of a valve body (18); and controlling the valve opening degree by a current level of the driving current (id). As a result, an alternating magnetic field is generated in the proportional solenoid so that a desired valve opening degree is obtained by the driving current level while obviating the influence of the residual magnetism.

A water heater can include a housing and a heating system disposed within the housing, where the heating system is configured to heat a fluid. The water heater can also include a switch coupled to the heating system, where the switch operates between a first position during normal operations and a second position during an outage. The water heater can further include a primary power source coupled to the switch, where the primary power source is configured to provide primary power to the heating system through the switch during the normal operations. The water heater can also include an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) coupled to the switch, where the UPS is configured to provide reserve power to the heating system through the switch during the outage, and where the UPS is integrated with the housing.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for a modular heating unit that may be adapted to be inline with a pipeline. The unit includes a base member having a main inlet pipe, a header, and pipes connecting the main inlet pipe with the header. A combustion chamber is positioned within the pipes. One or more heat exchangers are connected to the header. The heat exchangers each having a top surface, bottom surface, plurality of fins, inlet ring, inlet port, outlet ring, and outlet port. The modular heating unit includes external inlet and outlet pipes. A first flow path enables fluid to flow from the header into the one or more heat exchangers. An exit flow path connected to the external outlet pipe connects the one or more heat exchangers to an exit port with a portion of the exit flow path being positioned above the one or more heat exchangers.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for a modular heating unit that may be adapted to be inline with a pipeline. The unit includes a base member having a main inlet pipe, a header, and pipes connecting the main inlet pipe with the header. A combustion chamber is positioned within the pipes. One or more heat exchangers are connected to the header. The heat exchangers each having a top surface, bottom surface, plurality of fins, inlet ring, inlet port, outlet ring, and outlet port. The modular heating unit includes external inlet and outlet pipes. A first flow path enables fluid to flow from the header into the one or more heat exchangers. An exit flow path connected to the external outlet pipe connects the one or more heat exchangers to an exit port with a portion of the exit flow path being positioned above the one or more heat exchangers.

Method for generating heat energy comprising supplying electrical energy to a heating element where the heating element heats a negatively charged cathode, electrons are emitted from the heated cathode towards a positively charged anode through a positively charged grid, wherein the positively charged grid is provided with greater charge potential value that the anode and the anode is forced to constantly generate heat energy, wherein at least part of the cathode, the positively charged grid and at least part of the anode are provided in hydrogen gas filled chamber of a container. A device for carrying out said method is also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides a device and a method for detecting leak in a tankless water heater. According to the present disclosure, a leak detection device is disposed on a base of the tankless water heater. The leak detection device includes a leak sensor and at least one absorption arm extending from the leak sensor. The absorption arm wicks water and transports the wicked water towards the leak sensor. The leak sensor generates a signal indicative of leakage in the tankless water heater, in response to sensing wetness.

A heating apparatus is disclosed. The heating apparatus comprises a PTC heating element, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first protection layer, a second protection layer, a first interlayer, and a second interlayer. A hardness of the first protection layer is greater than that of the first interlayer. A hardness of the second protection layer is greater than that of the second interlayer.

The invention relates to a combination of an electrical heating element and a heat dissipater to be heated thereby; the heating element comprises a substrate, an insulating layer located on the substrate and a thick film conductor located on the insulating layer, wherein the second side of the metallic substrate is in contact with the heat dissipater, comprising a layer of metallic material on its face towards the heater and wherein the substrate is brazed to the heat dissipater and the surface of the heating element over which the thick film conductor extends, is substantially equal to the surface of the heat dissipater. The brazing leads to a permanent contact between the heating element and the heat dissipater, so that the possible tendency for warping as caused by the heating and cooling cycles will be withstood.