The present invention relates to an electrical fluid-heating device, in particular intended for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electrical heating element (4) intended to heat the fluid, a temperature sensor (83) intended to give information about the temperature of the fluid, a switch (87), called inrush current switch, intended to create an inrush current in a power supply circuit (88) of said one or more electrical heating elements, an opening means (89) for opening said circuit in the event of said inrush current occurring, the temperature sensor (83) and the inrush current switch (87) being positioned independently of one another, the heating device being configured so as to transmit a signal from the temperature sensor (83) to the inrush current switch (87).

A heated and chilled water dispenser comprising: a housing; an input port fast with the housing for connection to a mains pressure water supply; at least one chilled water container arranged to receive water from the input port; a water chilling assembly arranged to cool said at least one chilled water container; at least one hot water tank including a heating element and a water receiving arrangement to receive water from the input port, the water receiving arrangement including an inlet valve responsive to water level; an inlet plenum associated with the inlet valve, the plenum being coupled with the input port to receive water, the plenum further comprising a fill pipe coupled to the hot water tank for supplying water to the hot water tank; a thermostat coupled to said at least one hot water tank for controlling the heating element and thus temperature of water within the hot water tank; a two way outlet tap configured for dispensing hot water from the hot water supply or chilled water from the chilled water container in accordance with a user's selection; a liquid delivery device coupled to said at least one hot water tank for supplying hot water from the hot water tank, said device being arranged to be actuated by the outlet tap.

A method of operating a water heater, the method including determining a predicted variation of a hot water consumption rate variable over a future time period and calculating a total required operating time of the water heater over that time period. The method further includes determining multiple possible operating profiles of the water heater that provide the total required operating time, and calculating a minimum hot water reserve for each profile. One of the profiles is selected based at least partially on that profile providing a minimum hot water reserve that is not less than a predetermined desired reserve capacity and the water heater is operated over the time period using that profile. The selected profile may be the profile that is calculated to have the lowest operational cost.

A portable cooking device operable by electricity or by a rechargeable lithium Ion battery for use when electricity is or is not readily available.

Provided is an RPM control method for an inducer for a gas furnace that induces a flow of combustion gas produced in a burner from a heat exchanger to an exhaust pipe. The RPM control method for an inducer for a gas furnace includes: (a) initiating a heating operation for the gas furnace; (b) determining whether the operation time during which the heating operation is performed is equal to or longer than a first time period; (c) if it is determined that the operation time is equal to or longer than the first time period, detecting whether a pressure switch is turned OFF; and (d) if the pressure switch is detected as turned OFF, increasing the RPM of the inducer by a first value.

A system and approach for developing a periodic water usage profile and demand for controlling a water heater. A mode may be selected for demand for a certain amount of water of a particular temperature range to be available for use from the water heater. Data on hot water usage may be collected and the usage profile and demand may be calculated from the data. The water heater may be programmed to operate in a certain fashion based on the usage profile and demand. A control knob may be on the water heater control to select a particular demand. Control of the water heater may be operated from a remote device connected in a wireless or wired fashion. An optimization program may be implemented in the control of the water heater for achieving one or more beneficial goals related to water heater performance and hot water production.

The present disclosure relates to a condensate trap for a gas furnace for collecting and discharging condensate generated in a heat exchanger and an exhaust pipe, the condensate trap including: a first inlet through which the condensate generated in the heat exchanger is introduced; a second inlet through which the condensate generated in the exhaust pipe is introduced; a first passage through which the condensate introduced from the first inlet passes; a second passage through which the condensate introduced from the second inlet passes; a discharge port through which the condensate, having passed through the first passage and the second passage, is discharged outside; and a backflow prevention device disposed on the first passage and configured to prevent backflow of air, wherein the backflow prevention device includes: a housing; and a core which is movably disposed in the housing, and which in response to an amount of the condensate introduced from the first inlet being less than or equal to a predetermined amount, prevents backflow of the air by closing the first passage.

One aspect of this disclosure provides a heat exchanger that comprises a first panel half coupled to a corresponding second panel half that form a passageway having at least a first chamber adjacent an inlet end of the passageway and a second chamber and overlapping interference patterns formed in each of the first and second panel halves that extend along at least a portion of the length of the passageway and located between at least the first and second chambers.

A method of determining presence of a flame in a furnace of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The method comprises determining, using a controller, whether a processor signal (G) is active, responsive to a determination that the processor signal (G) is active, determining, using the controller prior to assertion of a flame-test input control signal, an output state of a first comparator, responsive to a determination that the output state of the first comparator is high, determining, using the controller prior to assertion of the flame-test input control signal, an output state of a second comparator, and responsive to a determination that the output state of the second comparator is low, transmitting, using the controller, a notification that a flame is present.

A biomass heating system for firing fuel in the form of pellets and/or wood chips is disclosed, comprising: a boiler with a combustion device; a heat exchanger with an inlet and an outlet; wherein the combustion device comprises a combustion chamber with a primary combustion zone and with a secondary combustion zone provided downstream thereof; the combustion device having a rotating grate on which the fuel can be burned; the secondary combustion zone of the combustion chamber being fluidically connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger and the primary combustion zone being laterally enclosed by a plurality of combustion chamber bricks.