A heat engine system and a method for cooling a fluid stream in thermal communication with the heat engine system are provided. The heat engine system may include a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, and a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to flow the working fluid therethrough. The cooling circuit may include an evaporator in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid stream. The evaporator may be further configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid.

A heat engine system and a method for cooling a fluid stream in thermal communication with the heat engine system are provided. The heat engine system may include a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, and a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to flow the working fluid therethrough. The cooling circuit may include an evaporator in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid stream. The evaporator may be further configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid.

A method for selectively transferring latent and sensible heat from air in a cooling system of a building structure interior volume that includes at least the steps of: (1) providing a building structure air conditioning system that provides cooling to at least a portion of the interior volume of a building structure and (2) adjusting a ratio of a time coolant flows through the first evaporator to a time coolant flows through the second evaporator such that coolant flows through the first evaporator for more time than the second evaporator when more latent heat is removed from the air and more coolant flows through the second evaporator for more time than the first evaporator when more sensible heat is removed from the air.

The present invention provides an apparatus (10) suitable for cooling hot condensate in a piping. The apparatus comprises the use of a vortex tube (103) together with liquid such as water. A container (101) is provided to hold the liquid where the vortex tube is disposed inside the container (101). A pipe coil (133) for conveying the hot condensate is provided around the tube (104). The apparatus (10) will generate mist for cooling the hot condensate in the piping.

An apparatus can be rotated to generate centripetal acceleration to perform water-related activities. The apparatus can comprise a cylindrical device with one or more compartments, a water condensation unit, a balancing unit, and a power unit. A toilet, a shower, and a washer and/or dryer can be disposed within the one or more compartments. The apparatus can be used in zero-gravity environments or micro-gravity environments.

An apparatus can be rotated to generate centripetal acceleration to perform water-related activities. The apparatus can comprise a cylindrical device with one or more compartments, a water condensation unit, a balancing unit, and a power unit. A toilet, a shower, and a washer and/or dryer can be disposed within the one or more compartments. The apparatus can be used in zero-gravity environments or micro-gravity environments.

A tunnel type hybrid cooling steam recycling apparatus includes: a housing; air-cooling heat exchanging plates disposed on an outer surface of the housing; a chamber, formed in the housing; a mesh steam tunnel disposed in the chamber; a steam inlet penetrating through the housing; spraying heads disposed in the chamber; and a water outlet penetrating through the housing. Steam supplied into the mesh steam tunnel through the steam inlet is condensed into condensed water. In a hybrid mode, the spraying heads provide cooling spray into the chamber to dissipate heat in a hybrid manner in conjunction with the housing and the air-cooling heat exchanging plates.

Provided is a method for improving efficiency of heat transmission that enables improving the efficiency of heat transmission by steam in a steam system at a pH of less than 7. A method for improving the efficiency of heat transmission by steam, wherein, in a step of introducing steam into a heat exchanger to heat an object to be heated or a step of contacting the steam with a cooling body to liquefy the steam, a sarcosine compound is allowed to be present in the steam system at a pH of less than 7. As the sarcosine compound, a long-chain sarcosine compound represented by the following formula (I) is preferable. R.sup.1C(O)N(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2).sub.nCOOR.sup.2 . . . (I) In formula (I), R.sup.1 is an unsaturated or saturated linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 7 to 24 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 0 to 2, and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a salt-forming group.

Provided is a method for improving efficiency of heat transmission that enables improving the efficiency of heat transmission by steam in a steam system at a pH of less than 7. A method for improving the efficiency of heat transmission by steam, wherein, in a step of introducing steam into a heat exchanger to heat an object to be heated or a step of contacting the steam with a cooling body to liquefy the steam, a sarcosine compound is allowed to be present in the steam system at a pH of less than 7. As the sarcosine compound, a long-chain sarcosine compound represented by the following formula (I) is preferable. R.sup.1C(O)N(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2).sub.nCOOR.sup.2 . . . (I) In formula (I), R.sup.1 is an unsaturated or saturated linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 7 to 24 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 0 to 2, and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a salt-forming group.