A generator drive system for the generator (3) of an internal combustion engine (1), including a flexible drive having a traction mechanism (5) which is guided across a generator pulley (6) driving the generator (3). The generator (3) is configured and electrically wired such that the generator (3) can be temporarily driven as a motor, and the generator (3) is coupled to the generator pulley (6) or the crankshaft pulley (7) is coupled to the crankshaft (8) via an overrunning clutch (4) which allows the generator (3), when operated as a motor, running faster than the generator pulley (6) or, taking into consideration a gear ratio, the crankshaft (8).

Systems and methods for reducing current imbalance between parallel bridge circuits used in a power converter of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) system are provided. A control system can monitor the bridge current of each of the bridge circuits coupled in parallel and generate a feedback signal indicative of the difference in bridge current between the parallel bridge circuits. Command signals for controlling the bridge circuits can then be developed based on the feedback signal to reduce current imbalance between the bridge circuits. For instance, the pulse width modulation of switching devices (e.g. IGBTs) used in the bridge circuits can be modified to reduce current imbalance between the parallel bridge circuits.

An arrangement adapted for letting water pass by electrical conductors and their contact surfaces related to a track of a system adapted for electrically driving a vehicle along a roadway. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be supplied with current and put under voltage. At least two or three tracks are disposed parallel to each other in a common rail structure, with at least two of these tracks being adapted to support and contain individual electrical conductors with contact surfaces put under voltage, and wherein at least one track is disposed closer to the highest point of the roadway and adjacent to a track containing one of said conductors with contact surfaces, which may be put under voltage.

The present invention has its application to a system for driving an electric and by one or more batteries powered vehicle along a roadway, comprising “a” one or more vehicles, which may be driven by an individual electric motor or motors and where in the respective vehicles exhibit a power-controlling control circuit for creating the necessary power and/or speed control and wherein required power i.a. can be provided primarily by a chargeable can be provided primarily by a chargeable battery set associated with the vehicle and “b” a plurality of road sections road portions divisible for the roadway, each being allotted one or more vehicle external electric stations for charging the battery set thereby and/or for supplying necessary power and energy for driving the vehicle. The underneath side of the mentioned vehicle is provided with a contact means displaceably positioned up and down and sideways, counted in the direction of transportation. Said roadway and its road sections or portions exhibits an elongated track or groove, each road section is supporting two rails in the groove and disposed under the driving path of the road section or portion. The rails being supplied with current and voltage. Said contact means is coordinated with a control equipment for creating simple adaptation of the contact means for registering the contact means for mechanical and electrical contact against said two rails.

A spooling apparatus includes a spool for holding wire, the spool having a wire-retaining section and end plates, the end plates having one or more apertures. A conductive plate is positioned on an end plate of the spool opposite the wire-retaining section, and at least one conductive extension that extends through a corresponding aperture of the end plate such that the conductive extension is adjacent to the wire retaining section. Wire is spooled onto the wire-retaining section, at least a portion of the wire being uninsulated and in electrical contact with the conductive extensions of the conductive plate.

A mobile device case includes a reel assembly, including a reel, a supporting plate, and a hub between the reel and the supporting plate. The hub includes a first cavity between the hub and the supporting plate for housing a spring, and a second cavity between the hub and the reel for housing a flat flexible cable (FFC). The spring is wound in a first direction, while the FFC is wound in a second direction. The FFC includes a first end for electrically coupling to a female jack connector of a device. A female connector is electrically coupled to a second end of the FFC for engaging a male jack connector of user-provided headphones. When the reel rotates in the first direction, the spring tightens and the FFC loosens. When the reel rotates in the second direction, the spring loosens and the FFC tightens.

It is provided a power supply device and a power acquisition device for an electromagnetic induction-powered electric vehicle that increase a power transfer efficiency by maximizing a lateral deviation tolerance and by minimizing a gap between the power acquisition device and the power supply device while preventing the power acquisition device from colliding with an obstacle present on a road and being damaged by the collision.

The invention relates to a device for inductively transmitting electrical energy to displaceable consumers (F1-F13) that can be moved along a track, having a primary conductor arrangement (2) divided into route segments (3-7) that are electrically separated from each other, and extending along the track, wherein individual route segments (3-7) are each associated with at least one current source (3'-7') for imprinting a continuous current into each of the route segments (3-7), and to a corresponding method. The aim of the invention is to supply the displaceable consumers in an energy-saving manner with electric energy matched to demand, and to allow short reaction times when operating the device. This aim is achieved by providing the device with a means (11) for determining the total power of the displaceable consumers (F1-F13) present in each of the individual route segments (3-7) and with a means (11) for actuating the current sources (3'-7') for applying the electrical continuous current corresponding to the total power required for each route segment (3-7), or by determining, according to the method, the required total power of the displaceable consumers (F1-F13) present in each route segment and applying an electrical continuous current to each route segment (3-7) by means of the associated current source (3'-7'), said current corresponding to the total power required therein.

An appliance holder system for electrical handheld appliances of the type having a flexible electrical power cord attached thereto is provided. The appliance holder system includes an appliance holder assembly having at least one receptacle for receiving and storing at least one electrical handheld appliance having a flexible electrical power cord attached thereto. A power cord storage assembly of the system has a pair of spaced apart cord wrapping elements about which the flexible electrical power cord may be wrapped for storage. At least one of the cord wrapping elements is movable between a storage and release position. The cord wrapping elements are configured to retain the wrapped power cord upon the power cord storage assembly when the at least one of the cord wrapping elements is in the storage position and wherein the wrapped power cord may be removed from the power cord storage assembly without unwrapping the wrapped power cord when the at least one of the cord wrapping elements is moved to the release position.

Disclosed is a conduit cart for supporting conduits above at least one rail. The conduit cart has a base; and at least two right-side protrusions, namely, a right-side sub-rail protrusion extending horizontally from the base; and a right-side super-rail protrusion extending horizontally from the base. The right-side sub-rail protrusion and right-side super-rail protrusion are adapted to straddle a flange of a first rail and the first rail is one among the at least one rail. Further, the base has at least two left-side protrusions, namely, a left-side sub-rail protrusion extending in a direction opposite to the right-side sub-rail protrusion from the base; and a left-side super-rail protrusion extending to the right-side super-rail protrusion from the base. The left-side sub-rail protrusion and left-side super-rail protrusion can straddle a substantially horizontal flange of a second rail, and the second rail is among the at least one rail.

An auxiliary and motive electric power pick-up structure for articulated and non-articulated land vehicles, such as electric public transport vehicles, that pass close to a collector-shoe-type power supply member mounted on a stationary support (17) along the route of the vehicle and positioned at intervals along the length of the route in order to provide auxiliary and motive electric power to the vehicle by way of the shoe (16). The structure comprises at least one conductor rail mounted on insulating supports (11) attached to the vehicle by suspension points (34), each including an elastic suspension unit (30) and a pneumatic, hydraulic or other type active suspension unit (33). In the case of articulated vehicles, the pick-up structure is divided into power supply segments (14) separated by a conducting link (19) at each articulated unit of the vehicle.

An article transport facility in which driving electric power can be supplied from an electricity supply line to an article transport vehicle so that it can travel through a crossing portion properly regardless of whether it is traveling along a first path or a second path. The switching device of the article transport facility is configured to switch a position change rail to a first position and a second position. The electricity supply line is supported by a first travel rail such that electric power can be supplied to the article transport vehicle traveling along the first travel rail and along the position change rail in the first position and is supported by the second travel rail such that electric power can be supplied to the article transport vehicle traveling along the second travel rail and along the position change rail in the second position.

The invention relates to an arrangement for providing a vehicle, in particular a track bound vehicle, with electric energy, wherein the arrangement comprises a receiving device (200) adapted to receive an alternating electromagnetic field and to produce an alternating electric current by electromagnetic induction. The receiving device (200) comprises a plurality of windings and/or coils (9, 10, 11) of electrically conducting material, wherein each winding or coil (9, 10, 11) is adapted to produce a separate phase of the alternating electric current.

This disclosure provides systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

An ultra slim power supply device for supplying power to an electric vehicle in a contactless manner includes at least one power supply track buried in a road. Each power supply track includes a plate-shaped magnetic core extending along the road, a plate or strip shaped magnetic field generator arranged above the magnetic core through which an alternating current is supplied to generate a magnetic field, a plate or strip shaped insulating body positioned between the magnetic core and the magnetic field generator to isolate them from each other, and a housing for enclosing the magnetic core, the magnetic field generator and the insulating body.

A breaker 162 is opened when a pantograph 101 is lowered. The pantograph 101 is connected to an overhead wire 200. Voltage and its phase of the overhead wire are detected by a detector 161. Power is supplied from a power storage device 150c to a tertiary winding 112c via a power converter 14c such that a primary side of the main transformer 110 has the same voltage and phase as the overhead wire so as to reversely excite the main transformer 110. When the voltage of the main transformer 110 has the same phase as the voltage of the overhead wire 200, the breaker 162 is turned on and then the pantograph 101 is raised, to connect the overhead wire 200 and the main transformer 110 to each other, thereby preventing the occurrence of an excitation inrush current to the main transformer 110.

A pressing device for a current collector moves a contact shoe unit is movable relative to a current rail. The pressing device includes a rocker unit and a spring unit. The spring unit having a helical spring rotatably biasing rocker unit is rotatable such that the contact shoe unit is movable into a sliding contact position in only one direction spring unit.

A cleaning means related to a vehicle-related system for driving an electrically propellable vehicle along a roadway. The vehicle has three sources of power: a vehicle-related power generator, a set of batteries and vehicle-external electric stations. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be connected with an electric station. The cleaning means is rotatably fastened in an upper area thereof about a horizontally oriented axis of rotation and adapted to clean the track from loose obstacles and/or yield to solid obstacles. The cleaning means and the axis of rotation are movably disposed in vertical direction by means of a resilient member. The cleaning comprises a forwardly directed edge portion oriented in the direction of travel, the edge portion comprising a point which may be brought into contact with the track and the conductor.

A vehicle-related system adapted for electrically driving a vehicle along a road-way. The vehicle has three sources of power: a vehicle-related power generator, a set of batteries and vehicle-external electric stations. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be connected with an electric station. A circuit, determining instantaneous power content of the set of batteries, is adapted to connect the vehicle-external power source via a switch belonging to the electric station, in order to charge the set of batteries and/or to supply power to the vehicle motor via a control circuit, when the power content of the set of batteries is at a predetermined level of power, lying below a maximum power content, and a supply of power or voltage from the vehicle-external power source is available.

A 360-degree freedom electric cord device system contains and manages automatic extension and retraction of an electric cord/cable supplying power to a push/pull-type electric machine, either self-propelled or not, for intended displacement or steering on a surface by a user. The 360-degree freedom electric cord device system, partly mounted on the electric machine, allows the power cord to clear obstacles on the surface and includes a self-retracting spool to automatically extend and rewind the power cord and continuously keeps physical tension therein, in a straight line and a natural position, during the displacement in any direction of the electric machine. With a ratchet mechanism, the device can also suitably be used independently of the machine as an electric retractable extension cord reel.

Disclosed is a conduit cart for supporting conduits above at least one rail. The conduit cart has a base; and at least two right-side protrusions, namely, a right-side sub-rail protrusion extending horizontally from the base; and a right-side super-rail protrusion extending horizontally from the base. The right-side sub-rail protrusion and right-side super-rail protrusion are adapted to straddle a flange of a first rail and the first rail is one among the at least one rail. Further, the base has at least two left-side protrusions, namely, a left-side sub-rail protrusion extending in a direction opposite to the right-side sub-rail protrusion from the base; and a left-side super-rail protrusion extending to the right-side super-rail protrusion from the base. The left-side sub-rail protrusion and left-side super-rail protrusion can straddle a substantially horizontal flange of a second rail, and the second rail is among the at least one rail.

A ground power supply line for electric traction vehicles is provided with two conductors carried by a series of tiles aligned to one another; each tile has a conductive plate and a lower supporting structure, which is made of insulating material and accommodates electric connectors, normally open switches, and a control and command unit, which switches the switches for selectively electrically connecting the conductive plate to the conductors in response to a signal deriving from an electric traction vehicle passing over said external conductive plate; the upper surface of the conductive plates is flushed with the remaining part of a road surface.

A snow plough arrangement comprising a least one snow plough unit and related to a system for driving an electrically propellable vehicle along a roadway. The vehicle has three sources of power: a vehicle-related power generator, a set of batteries and vehicle-external electric stations. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be connected with an electric station. The snow plough unit is rotatably fastened to the contact means in an upper area thereof about a horizontally oriented axis of rotation and adapted to clear loose obstacles from the track and yield to solid obstacles. The snow plough unit and the axis of rotation are movably disposed in a vertical direction by means of a resilient member. The snow plough unit comprises a forwardly directed edge portion oriented in the direction of travel, the edge portion comprising a point, which may be brought into contact with the bottom of the track and/or the conductor.

A cable reel assembly comprises a hub configured to house a field communication distribution box with front and rear flanges projecting radially outward from front and rear edges of the hub. A cable receiving trough is formed between the flanges in which a communications cable may be wound. A nesting ring which is smaller in diameter that the front and rear flanges projects outward from the second flange. The nesting ring of a first cable reel assembly is positionable within an area surrounded by the first flange of a second cable reel to facilitate stacking of the cable reels.

For the coupling of two parallel contact wires of an elastic contact line system with a rigid contact line system, which has a power track (3) and a contact wire (4) affixed thereon, an elongated cantilever (5) is provided in a transition area, whose rigidity increases in the longitudinal direction from the elastic contact line system to the rigid contact line system. The two contact wires (1, 2) of the elastic contact line system are located along the cantilever parallel to the first contact wire (4), which is, in turn, clamped over the entire length of the cantilever. All three contact wires (1, 2, 4) are affixed on several multiple clamps (9) in the area of the cantilever (5), which clamps are located in a distributed manner along the cantilever. The multiple clamps (9) are located in recesses (12) of the cantilever.

Controlling a power system in a mining truck includes receiving data indicative of an expected change in suitability of the mining truck for on-trolley operation, and outputting a control command to an actuating mechanism for a pantograph responsive to the data and prior to occurrence of the expected suitability change. A mining truck and power system are further provided, wherein a pantograph having an electrical contactor is adjusted between a first configuration contacting an overhead trolley line, and a rest configuration, responsive to data indicative of the expected suitability change.

An aerial cable car system including transportation operating equipment for passenger and/or freight transport, wherein electrical consumers are connected for operation thereof to a rechargeable electrical energy store of a transportation operating equipment by a respective power circuit. The transportation operating equipment includes an operating control device connected to measuring devices for dynamically capturing measurement values based on available quantity of energy in the energy store. The operating control device includes a storage module having at least one stored measurement control value and an associated control parameter. The operating control device includes a filter module comparing a captured measurement value to the at least one stored measurement control value and reading out corresponding stored control parameter, based on which power circuits can be selectively coupled or decoupled to the energy store by the operating control device. Electrical consumers in transportation operating equipment can be fed without interruption by the energy store, even during travel.

The invention relates to a current collector 1 for a device 2 that can be displaced with and against the driving direction F along a conductor line 5, comprising a current collector cart 8 for the guided displacement along a guide element 9 of the conductor line 5, and an energy transmission system. The invention solves the problem of providing a current collector and an energy transmission system, which enable an energy-conserving, contact-reliable and damage-free displacement of the current collector along a conductor line and a simple connection of the current collector to the conductor line, in that at least one first lever assembly 12L between the current collector cart 8 and displaceable device 2 is provided with a first drive lever arm 13L, the first end of which can be connected in a rotatable manner to the displaceable device 2 and the second end of which is connected in a rotatable manner to a second end of at least one first tension lever arm 14L, the first end thereof being connected in a rotatable manner to a current collector cart, wherein a first adjustment drive 15L is provided in order to be able to move the current collector cart 8 between a retracted position on the displaceable device 2 and an extended position away from the displaceable device 2, and wherein a first locking device 16; 18L; 15L is provided, in order to lock the first drive lever arm 13L when displacing the displaceable device 2 in the driving direction F in a predetermined extended position.

Disclosed is a system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle, in particular to a track bound vehicle such as a light rail vehicle. The system includes an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring the energy to the vehicle. The electric conductor arrangement includes at least one alternating current line. Each alternating current line carries one phase of an alternating electric current. The conductor arrangement includes a plurality of consecutive segments. The segments extend along the path of travel of the, vehicle. Each segment includes one section of each of the at least one alternating current line.

A pantograph assembly configured to transfer electrical power from an overhead conductor to a machine. The pantograph assembly includes a pantograph support detachably connected to the machine, an articulated assembly, a pan rail and a carbon brush. The pantograph support includes a first link, and a second link hingedly connected to the first link. The first link is connected to the pantograph support. The pan rail is supported by the second link of the articulated assembly. The carbon brush is supported by the pan rail along a longitudinal axis of the pan rail. The pantograph assembly further includes an end horn having a bridge portion connected to the carbon brush. The bridge portion is configured to transfer the overhead conductor between the end horn and the carbon brush.

The invention relates to a mining vehicle and method for its energy supply. The mining vehicle has a carriage, driving equipment for moving the carriage, and at least one mining work device. Further, the mining vehicle has at least one electric motor for operating a main function of the mining vehicle, and at least one electric motor for operating an auxiliary function of the mining vehicle. The mining vehicle further has a power-generating auxiliary unit. When necessary, the power-generating auxiliary unit supplies at least part of the power required by the electric motor operating the auxiliary function.

A self-propelled cable relay truck includes: a power transmission relay unit to which a power supply side cable configured to perform power transmission between a power supply and the relay truck, and a work machine side cable configured to perform power transmission between an electric work machine and the relay truck are connected to perform relay of the power transmission between the power supply side cable and the work machine side cable; a travel device configured to perform traveling operation so as to be able to move the power transmission relay unit; and a movement control unit configured to perform movement control of the travel device.

The upper lateral collection structure (8) is mounted on a land vehicle (1), notably an urban public transport vehicle, and cooperates, for the purpose of overhead electrical power supply to the vehicle, with fixed contact slippers (16) located along its route. This structure comprises: a conducting track (14) arranged longitudinally (NEW) the upper lateral part of the vehicle and comprising a contact region (15) for the contact slipper; an electrical connection connecting the conducting track to the electrical circuit of the vehicle; an insulating support (24) on which the conducting track is mounted; a means of mechanical connection of the collecting structure to the vehicle; and a damping device which damps out the shocks resulting from the contact slipper and ensures satisfactory contact between the conducting track and the contact slipper. This invention is of benefit to the manufacturers of electrically powered public transport vehicles.

A system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle, wherein the system comprises an electric conductor arrangement for producing a magnetic field and for thereby transferring the energy to the vehicle, wherein the electric conductor arrangement comprises at least one current line, wherein each current line is adapted to carry the electric current which produces the magnetic field or is adapted to carry one of parallel electric currents which produce the magnetic field and wherein: the at least one current line extends at a first height level,the system comprises an electrically conductive shield for shielding the magnetic field, wherein the shield extends under the track and extends below the first height level, anda magnetic core extends along the track at a second height level and extends above the shield.

A power cord management system for managing flexible electrical power cords associated with hair or bathroom handheld appliances includes a power cord storage body. A pair of spaced apart cord wrapping elements are coupled to the power storage body about which the flexible electrical power cord may be wrapped for storage. At least one of the cord wrapping elements is movable between a storage and release position. The cord wrapping elements are configured to retain the wrapped power cord upon the power cord storage body when the at least one of the cord wrapping elements is in the storage position and wherein the wrapped power cord may be removed from the power cord storage body without unwrapping the wrapped power cord when the at least one of the cord wrapping elements is moved to the release position. A power cord coupling mechanism is coupled to the power cord storage body for facilitating releasable retaining of a free end or other portion of the flexible electrical power cord to the power cord storage body.

A vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 constitute a control device 200 which controls elevation of sliders 4Ra and 4La of power collectors 4R and 4L based on information detected by a trolley wire detecting device (camera) 15. The control device 200 calculates positional relationship between a slider and a trolley wire 3R/3L based on the information detected by the trolley wire detecting device. When the slider has deviated from a prescribed range for being in contact with the trolley wire, the control device executes control to prohibit an operation for elevating the sliders or to lower the sliders when the sliders have been elevated. With this configuration, an electrically driven dump truck capable of lightening the operating load on the driver during the trolley traveling is provided.

An arrangement for operating a rail vehicle includes a DC voltage intermediate circuit which is connected to an energy supply network, at least one traction inverter which is connected at its DC voltage side to the DC voltage intermediate circuit and at its AC voltage side which is connected one or more traction motors of the rail vehicle. An auxiliary system inverter is connected at its DC voltage side to the DC voltage intermediate circuit and is connected at its AC voltage side to a primary side of an auxiliary system transformer. Auxiliary systems are connected to a secondary side of the auxiliary system transformer via an auxiliary line. Electrical energy generated by an electrical energy supply unit is transferred via the auxiliary line, the auxiliary system transformer and the auxiliary system inverter into the DC voltage intermediate circuit for operation of the at least one traction motor.

A system for transferring energy to a vehicle, in particular a track bound vehicle, such as a light rail vehicle, wherein the system includes an electric conductor arrangement adapted to produce an electromagnetic field which can be received by the vehicle thereby transferring the energy to the vehicle the system further includes electric and/or electronic devices which are adapted to operate the electric conductor arrangement. The devices produce heat while operating the conductor arrangement and—therefore—are to be cooled. A cooling arrangement of the system includes a structure having a cavity in which at least one of the devices to be cooled is located. The structure includes a cover limiting the cavity at the top, wherein the device(s) to be cooled is/are located at a distance to the cover. The structure is integrated in the ground at the path of travel of the vehicle in such a manner that the cover forms a part of the surface of the ground.

The present invention is vehicle electric power supply system (A) that supplies electric power wirelessly to a vehicle (M) that is positioned within an electric power supply area (X). The vehicle electric power supply system (A) has: a power-receiving device (m1) that is provided in the vehicle; a plurality of power-transmitting devices (1a1, 1a2, 1a3, 1b1, 1b2, 1b3, 1c1, 1c2, 1c3) that are provided at mutually different positions within the electric power supply area; a position detecting device (4) that detects the position of the power-receiving device within the electric power supply area; and a control device (4) that, based on detection results from the position detecting device, selects from among the plurality of power-transmitting devices the power-transmitting device that is located in a position that corresponds to the power-receiving device, and then causes power to be supplied wirelessly from the selected power-transmitting device.

In a catenary-based transportation system which is provided with integrated power supply equipment having an electricity storage unit which stores electricity regenerated by vehicles traveling by electricity received from a catenary and supplies electricity to the catenary and the other power supply system which is a power supply system different from the electricity storage unit concerned, the performance of a rectifier of the other power supply system is determined based on a power-supplying contribution ratio γ of the other power supply system so that the cost value of the integrated power supply equipment becomes lower than a target cost value.

A shaped block for positioning and/or holding a plurality of line sections of one or more electric lines along the track of a vehicle includes a plurality of recesses and/or projections. Edges of the recesses and/or the projections each delimit a space for the line sections into which one of the line sections can be introduced, so that said line section extends through the space in a longitudinal direction of the space. The longitudinal directions of the spaces delimited by the edges of the recesses and/or by the projections extend essentially mutually parallel in a common plane.

A method for producing process vapor and boiler feed steam in a heatable reforming reactor for producing synthesis gas. The sensible heat of a synthesis gas produced from hydrocarbons and steam can be used so that two types of vapor are produced during the heating and evaporation of boiler feed water and process condensate. The method also includes a conversion of the carbon monoxide contained in the synthesis gas. The method includes an optional heating of the boiler feed water using the flue gas from the heating of the reforming reactor. The sensible heat of the synthesis gas and of the flue gas originating from the heating can be used more efficiently. The disadvantages from the flue gas heating, which are caused by the fluctuating heat supply in the flue gas duct, are avoided. A system for practicing the method is also disclosed.

Systems and methods for controlling exhaust steam temperatures from a finishing superheater are provided. In certain embodiments, the system includes a controller which includes control logic for predicting an exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater using model-based predictive techniques (e.g., based on empirical data or thermodynamic calculations). Based on the predicted exhaust temperature of steam, the control logic may use feed-forward control techniques to control the operation of an inter-stage attemperation system upstream of the finishing superheater. The control logic may determine if attemperation is required based on whether the predicted exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater exceeds a set point temperature as well as whether the inlet temperature of steam into the finishing superheater drops below a set point temperature of steam. The attemperation system may include a characterizing function to linearize the valve operation controlled by the control logic to inject cooled, high-pressure feedwater into the steam upstream of the finishing superheater, which may, in turn, control the exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater. The disclosed embodiments may also be applied to any systems where an outlet temperature of a fluid from a heat transfer device may be controlled.

A heating system comprising a fuel burner in co-operation with a primary heat exchanger, a reservoir for storing warmed water in, and a blending valve, and a controller wherein in use a user can signal to the controller to warm the water in the water store using a heater or by the primary heat exchanger, and when hot water is required water is removed from the water store and mixed with water from a cold main prior to being or after the water from the cold main has been admitted to a further heat exchanger for heating the water.

A hot water supply system includes a first tank for storing hot water for heating; a second tank for storing hot water to be supplied to a hot water tap; a heater circulation path for supplying the hot water of the first tank to a heater; a first path that includes a first heat transfer portion surrounding the exposed portion of the second tank to the inside of the first tank and that connects the first tank to a forward portion of the heater circulation path so that the hot water of the first tank can be supplied to the heater through the first heat transfer portion; and a second path that includes a second heat transfer portion disposed along the first heat transfer portion, and that allows heat exchange between the hot water of the second tank and the hot water flowing through the first heat transfer portion due to the flow, in the second heat transfer portion, of the hot water of the second tank.

A water delivery system is provided, comprising at least one faucet device with a cold water faucet part and a hot water faucet part, a cold water line to the at least one faucet device, a tankless heater device for heating water, a hot water line having a first portion running from an outlet of the tankless heater device to the at least one faucet device and having a second portion running from the at least one faucet device to an inlet of the tankless heater device, and a circulatory pump arranged in the second portion of the hot water line, wherein the circulatory pump has a prefixed first performance level and a prefixed second performance level, wherein the first performance level causes a finite water flow in the hot water line which is below an operation threshold value of the tankless heater device.

A buckstay connecting system includes a socket part that is fixed to the horizontal buckstay being separated from a lower end of the vertical buckstay between the lower end of the vertical buckstay and the horizontal buckstay, and an insertion part that is fixed to a lower portion of the vertical buckstay, is inserted into the socket part so as to be able to slide in a vertical direction, inhibits the horizontal buckstay from being inclined, and is allowed to be fastened to the socket part.

A fluid heating system for heating and dispensing fluid in a primary fluid flow path is disclosed, and may include a reservoir defining an interior for holding a quantity of a fluid, with the interior being in fluid communication with the primary fluid flow path such that the quantity of fluid in the interior is able to flow into the primary fluid flow path. A primary pump may be configured to pump fluid in the primary fluid flow path, the primary pump being in fluid communication with the primary fluid flow path. A fluid dispensing device may be configured to selectively dispense fluid from the primary fluid flow path. A steam injection apparatus may be in communication with the interior of the reservoir device to inject steam into the interior to heat fluid located in the interior of the reservoir.

A system providing for heat recovery from exhausted flue gas in a steam generator is described comprising a flue gas outlet conduit defining a flow path for flue gas from a flue gas outlet of a steam generator to a flue gas conduit junction point; a flue gas primary conduit defining a flow path for flue gas from the junction to a primary air preheater; a flue gas secondary conduit defining a flow path for flue gas from the junction to a secondary air preheater; wherein a steam generator process fluid heat exchanger is disposed within the flow path of the flue gas primary conduit upstream of the primary air preheater to recover some heat from the flue gas in advance of the primary air preheater. A method implementing the flow principles embodied in such a system is also described.

The building heat exchange system is suited for installation in areas having warmer seasonal climates. The system can include an external solar heated water supply, and an indoor water heater. An enclosure extends around the water heater, with indoor air flowing between the enclosure and water heater to a duct for distribution. During cooler conditions the water heater heats incoming water from the relatively cool external water supply, with the warmth of the water heater warming the air for distribution into the bathroom or other area as desired. In warmer times, the water supplied from the water supply can be sufficiently hot that additional heating is not needed, and can be hotter than desired. In such warmer conditions, the water heater can serve as a radiator, with heat radiated from the water heater being absorbed by air flowing past the water heater and expelled to the external environment.