A plasma generator includes a cathode, an anode, and a stabilizing electrode. The stabilizing electrode stabilises a region of plasma within a fluid. Methods of plasma generation and uses thereof are also provided.

A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, a pair of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of bi-directional switches for connecting the electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The power supply supplies an alternating voltage having a frequency no greater than 60 Hz, and the control unit controls the switches such that the electrodes are energised with an alternating voltage having a frequency no less than 150 kHz.

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 invention relates to heat engineering, power engineering and the field of electric heating of liquids, water for instance; it can be used in circulation water heating systems and hot water supply, and as a universal device for diverse electric heaters. An object of the invention are to enhance the ease of fabrication, fabricability, and operability for block electrodes and electrode heating boilers on the whole, to increase the reliability of device both in static and dynamic modes ones. The invention meets an object of extended performance capabilities, versatility and flexibility of the device, potential diversification and enhancement of adaptability in solving particular problems. Moreover, the invention allows improvement of convection in water heating boilers and reduction of uniformity of sludge and rust deposition on electrodes thus increasing the heater effective performance time. The invention object comprises an improvement of protection against breakdowns between the electrodes as well, phase current load imbalance reduction, electrode protection against non-uniform deformation during operation in dynamic conditions. It is also an object of the invention to extend i the range of constructional capacity control without design and dimensional changes. FIG. 2 provides a schematic of electrodes (1) arrangement on the basis (3) located on the inner case (2) side with electrodes (1) slightly deviating from the longitudinal symmetric axis of the case (2) and irregularly spaced on the basis, electrode longitudinal axes deviating from each other at small angles. (4)—outer electrode terminals (1).

A liquid heating appliance for heating water or other liquids, suitably to a target temperature of from 55° C. to around boiling point, includes a primary heat chamber or body (heat source chamber) that is thermally insulated and which in use contains a high thermal density heat storing liquid or solid; and a secondary chamber alongside the primary chamber through which a liquid to be heated is passed in use. The appliance has a heat transfer feature to selectively transfer thermal energy from the heat-storing liquid or solid to the liquid to be heated in the secondary chamber. The secondary chamber is preferably a conduit through which the liquid to be heated is able to flow and the thus heated liquid can be delivered to a tap as hot water for a range of uses. Water may also be heated for a central heating system for space heating.

An electrode for the ohmic heating of a particulate liquid flowing therethrough having an inlet and an outlet that are fluidly connected and are arranged in such a way that there is a change of direction of 60°-120° between the inlet and the outlet. A cell for the ohmic heating of a particulate liquid flowing therethrough may have two such electrodes and a dielectric tube that fluidly connects the two electrodes. An apparatus for the ohmic heating of a particulate liquid flowing therethrough may have six such cells that are fluidly connected in series and are electrically connected to a triphasic power supply, so that the increase of temperature of the liquid at any cell is substantially the same.

A radiant panel (1) intended to be installed inside a vehicle (80) passenger compartment (3), in particular a motor vehicle passenger compartment, the radiant panel (1) comprising at least one array of electrodes with at least two primary electrodes of different polarities, the array of electrodes being arranged such that at least two primary electrodes of different polarities each define at least one spiral winding around one another.

A plasma heating apparatus including a boiler vessel for holding water to be heated, a cathode housed in the vessel, the cathode defining a watertight cathode chamber isolated from the water in the vessel, and, an anode housed in the cathode chamber, the anode including an internal passage for receiving a gas from outside of the vessel when the passage is connected to a gas supply, and wherein the anode is connectable to a power source for receiving power for generating a plasma in the cathode chamber. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a heat or power generating system or plant including the plasma heating apparatus.

A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, pairs of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of bridge arms connected in parallel to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling switches of the bridge arms. The plurality of bridge arms include a respective bridge arm for each pair of electrodes and a common bridge arm, and each bridge arm includes a pair of switches and a node located between the switches. A first electrode of each pair of electrodes is connected to the node of the respective bridge arm, and a second electrode is connected to the node of the common bridge arm. The switches have a plurality of different states for selectively connecting pairs of electrodes to the input terminals in one of a plurality of electrode configurations, the electrodes having a different total electrical resistance in each electrode configuration.

A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, pairs of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of switches for connecting the pairs of electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The switches have a plurality of different states for selectively connecting pairs of electrodes to the input terminals in one of a plurality of electrode configurations, the electrodes having a different total electrical resistance in each electrode configuration. When switching between a first electrode configuration and a second electrode configuration having a second lower total electrical resistance, the control unit controls the switches such that switching between the electrode configurations occurs in response to zero-crossings in a voltage of the power supply or the electrodes of the second electrode configuration are energised with a voltage having a higher duty than the electrodes of the first electrode configuration.