A multifunctional assembly having a resistive element a conductive element in electrical communication with the resistive element, the conductive element defining at least one of a plurality of multifunctional zones of the resistive element, wherein the conductive element is configured to direct a flow of electricity across at least one of the plurality of multifunctional zones of the resistive element in a preselected manner.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a cooking process by using a liquid in a cooking vessel, for example a cooking pot, upon a cooking hob (20). The method comprises a step of determining a cooking parameter of the liquid in the cooking vessel at a predetermined time (tB, tBP), a step of adjusting a heating power density (P) of a cooking zone of the cooking hob (20) for transferring a heating power (P) to the cooking vessel placed on the cooking zone; and a step of reducing the heating power density (P) transferred to the cooking vessel from an initial power (iP) to a simmering power (PS). Further, the present invention relates to a cooking vessel for the cooking hob (20). Moreover, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance for performing the cooking process.

Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.

An apparatus and method to deter mold growth on the interior surfaces of buildings. The apparatus is a corded and plugged power supply with adjustable temperature and humidity sensors, logic circuitry, and split duplex receptacles. The method employs the apparatus, a portable heater, an array of portable fans, and catchments containing a hygroscopic substance such as calcium chloride. One receptacle controls the heater. The other receptacle controls the fans. There are three operative states: a heat-on/fans-on state at low temperature, a heat-off/fans-on state at high temperature and high humidity, and an idle state at high temperature and low humidity. The catchments capture water vapor circulated by the fans.

A metal heater system. More specifically, a plurality of metal heaters is coupled to the surface of the lower end of a pipeline at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pipeline, and PTC heating elements inside the metal heaters conduct heat to local portions of the pipeline. Convection is generated in a fluid inside the pipeline because of the heat conducted to the local portions, and thus the overall pipeline is maintained at a constant temperature, efficiently preventing the freezing and bursting of the pipeline in winter.

A hydraulic actuator device for a hydraulic system filled with an electrically conductive medium, the hydraulic actuator device being situatable or being situated on and/or in the hydraulic system, and including at least one actuator module, which in each case is designed in such a way that at least a portion of the electrically conductive medium is acceleratable into at least one partial volume of the hydraulic system due to its interaction with an electrical current flow generated with the aid of the respective actuator module and/or with a magnetic field created with the aid of the respective actuator module, as a result of which a pressure build-up is creatable in the at least one partial volume of the hydraulic system.

An aircraft engine nacelle comprising an icing protection system and an icing protection method for such an aircraft engine nacelle. The aircraft engine nacelle comprises an air inlet comprising a lip, a tubular air inlet piece and an icing protection system. The icing protection system comprises an icing prevention means powered continuously by a first electrical energy source and wholly or partly covering the lip, a de-icing means powered by a second electrical energy source covering the tubular air inlet piece and a controller configured to acquire a current total air temperature value, and control the second electrical energy source as a function of the current total air temperature value.

A deicing system may include one or more walkway cassettes, a temperature control element, and a control unit. Each walkway cassette may include a casing and a heat tracing; cable in good thermal contact with the casing. The temperature control element may include a comparatively smaller casing and a heat tracing cable in good thermal contact with the casing, and may exhibit similar heat loss characteristics to the walkway cassettes. The temperature control element may include a temperature sensor on a top surface of its casing, which may generate temperature data and send the temperature data to the control unit. The control unit may provide power to the temperature control element and the walkway cassette(s) in parallel based on the temperature data. The temperature control element may be placed in proximity to the walkway cassette(s), and may be exposed to substantially the same environmental conditions as the walkway cassettes.

A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.

An aerosol generating device is disclosed comprising a heater for generating an aerosol and a vapour flow passage configured to transport the generated aerosol from the heater to a mouth end of the vapour flow passage. The vapour flow passage is extendable such that a length between the heater and the mouth end is adjustable.