The present invention provides an apparatus for diffusing a chemical substance comprising: a chamber having a diffusing member arranged to diffuse a chemical substance to air disposed within the chamber, wherein the chamber is in communication with an air-inlet arranged to receive air from an exterior of the chamber and an air-outlet arranged to expel air from within the chamber.

A combustor is provided. The combustor may include an axial fuel injection system, and a radial fuel injection system aft of the axial fuel injection system. The axial fuel injection system includes a mixer having a bluff body at an exit port of the mixer, and a fuel injector disposed within the mixer. A fuel and air mixer is also provided and comprises an outer housing with an exit port and a bluff body. The bluff body extends across the exit port of the outer housing. A fuel injection system is also provided. The systems comprise a mixer having a bluff body at an exit port of the mixer and a fuel injector disposed within the mixer.

A liquid aerator in one embodiment includes an air deliverer having a bulb pump portion formed integrally with a stem portion; a one-way valve located in the bulb pump portion of the air deliverer; and a porous diffuser located at a distal end of the stem portion of the air deliverer. A liquid aerator in another embodiment includes an air deliverer having a bottle shape including a larger diameter base portion formed integrally with a narrower diameter neck portion; a one-way valve located in the base portion of the air deliverer; and a porous diffuser located at a distal end of the neck portion of the air deliverer.

A diffuser membrane and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. In the method for manufacturing, a first material is heated and extruded to form a base layer and a second material is heated and extruded to form a coating layer. The base layer and coating layer may be extruded substantially simultaneously in a coextrusion process. Accordingly, the coating may be applied to the base layer in a manner that optimizes the bonding between the two layers and provides the ability to control the thickness of the coating layer. Alternatively, the base layer is formed initially and the coating layer is subsequently formed thereover. The first and second materials have differing properties. The first material may comprise polyurethane and the second material may comprise polyurethane and PTFE.

A valve for dispensing a liquid includes a housing, an internal liquid passage extending through the housing, a valve seat, a valve member movable between a closed position engaging the valve seat and an open position disengaging the valve seat, and a control member controlling movement of the valve member, which is movable between a first position in which it engages the valve member in its closed position, a second position in which the valve member is in its open position but still engaging the control member and a third position in which the valve member is in its open position and out of engagement with the control member. At least one air passage connects the outside of the valve with the internal liquid passage. The at least one air passage is closed in the first and second positions of the control member and is opened in the third position.

A beverage machine has a gas dissolution assembly that includes a pressure vessel having an open end and a top cap that couples with the open end of the pressure vessel. The top cap has a gas inlet through which a gas to be infused into the beverage flows. A clamping mechanism clamps the top cap onto the open end of the pressure vessel. A gas infusing device that is coupled to the gas inlet has a porous element that infuses the gas into the beverage.

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a purified water tank to store water, a flow sensor to detect an amount of water supplied to the purified water tank, a purified water supply valve to open/close a purified water supply flow path to guide water stored in the purified water tank to the carbonated water tank, a carbonated water discharge valve to open/close a carbonated water discharge flow path to guide the carbonated water to the outside of the refrigerator, and a controller to detect a position where water leakage occurs by sequentially opening the purified water supply valve and the carbonated water discharge valve in a water leakage mode.

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A carbon dioxide source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate carbon dioxide gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the carbon dioxide source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the carbon dioxide source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making carbonated beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

A refrigerator having a carbonated water production module integrally provided with a carbon dioxide gas cylinder having carbon dioxide gas stored therein and a carbonated water tank to mix purified water with the carbon dioxide gas to produce carbonated water. The carbonated water production module is mounted to the rear surface of the door, and thus it may be cooled by cool air in the refrigeration compartment and be easy to access, and thereby repair and replacement thereof is facilitated. The dispenser includes a carbonated water discharge channel into which carbonated water from the carbonated water tank is discharged, and a purified water discharge channel into which purified water from the water tank is discharged. Since the purified water discharge channel does not pass through the carbonated water tank, a user is allowed to selectively dispense purified water or carbonated water anytime.

A contactor includes a random packing arrangement in several compartments. The compartments can be delimited by perforated plates or by structured packing walls. A heat and/or material exchange column is equipped with such a contactor. A floating structure includes such a column. A column equipped with such a contactor can be used for a gas treatment, CO.sub.2 capture, distillation or air conversion process.