Pressurized water is introduced into a steam production apparatus and system to produce steam. Electrical power is supplied to the apparatus though spaced apart electrical terminals which, in combination with two insulating elements, form a chamber to heat water introduce into the apparatus and chamber to turn the water into steam. The steam can be used for various purposes including powering of steam turbines for generating electricity, driving machinery, and for providing heat for heating systems. The generated steam can be used for various other purposes.

A flowmeter for measuring flow of a conductive liquid includes a structure (20, 220) defining a flow path, electrodes in the flow path and electrodes (34a, 34b, 234a, 234b) exposed within the flow path. An electrical circuit (40, 240) applies a voltage between the electrodes so that an electrical current flows along a conduction path between the electrodes within a liquid flowing in the flow path. Means such as temperature sensors (56, 58, 256, 258) are provided for determining a value representing a temperature rise in the liquid passing through a sensing region of the flow path which encompasses at least a part of the. A monitoring circuit (60, 207) determines a value representing the flow rate based on the value representing the temperature, rise the voltage and the current. The flowmeter may be incorporated in an ohmic heater and elements of the ohmic heater may serve as elements of the flowmeter.

A heating method for hardening a coil spring includes: fixing one end of the coil spring to an outer peripheral surface of a first shaft member and fixing another end of the coil spring to an outer peripheral surface of a second shaft member; energizing the first and second shaft members to heat up the coil spring; and rotating each of the first and second shaft members in a state where the first and second shaft members are being energized. Rotation axes of the first and second shaft members are positioned on a same straight line that is at an angle of 0 degrees or more and 30 degrees or less to a horizontal direction, and a central axis of the coil spring that has been mounted on the first and second shaft members is parallel to the straight line.

A method for preparing a substantially pasteurized and/or sterilized food product; the method, which can be used to produce pasta sauces or soups, comprises: a cooking step, during which a base of the food product is obtained by thermally treating a first component at a temperature exceeding 30 C.; a mixing step, during which said base and a second, substantially solid component are mixed together so as to obtain a mixture; and an ohmic treatment step, during which said mixture is subjected to an ohmic treatment so as to obtain the substantially pasteurized and/or sterilized food product.