Solar thermal devices are formed from a block of wood, where the natural cell lumens of the wood form an interconnected network that transports fluid or material therein. The block of wood can be modified to increase absorption of solar radiation. Combining the solar absorption effects with the natural transport network can be used for various applications. In some embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to evaporate a fluid, for example, evaporating water for extraction, distillation, or desalination. In other embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to change transport properties of a material to allow it to be transported in the interconnected network, for example, heating crude oil to adsorb the oil within the block of wood.

The present invention relates to evaporation apparatus (100) comprising manifolds provided with at least one nozzle (102), a tank unit (103) for a liquid, and a sample holder configured to be inserted into the tank unit. The sample holder is configured to hold at least one sample in a defined position relative the at least one nozzle a control unit (104) an inlet port (105) configured to be connected to a gas supply, a pressure regulator (106) arranged downstream the inlet port (105). A set value of the pressure regulator (106) is controlled by the control unit (104), a control valve (107) arranged downstream the pressure regulator (106), wherein each of the at least one manifold (101a-d) is connected to a corresponding output port of the control valve. The control valve is controlled by the control unit (104), and the control unit is configured to set the set value of the pressure regulator to a value that causes a predetermined gas flow from each of the at least one nozzle.

A method for circulating hot air in a solar desalination system includes providing a desalination structure having an air flow path defined between an external surface layer and an internal surface layer. A return flow conduit provides an internal fluid flow path. Saline water is pumped through a center column in a direction from the base towards the peak. The saline water is delivered through a nozzle that extends through a sidewall of the center column to provide a mist within the desalination structure exterior of the center column. An air flow within the air flow path is heated to form a hot air supply. The mist is heated with the hot air supply to form an evaporated fluid. A diverted portion of the hot air supply is delivered into the return flow conduit and mixed with an ambient air to form and heat the air flow.

A method for thermal separation of a substance flowing into a treatment chamber by use of a separation apparatus includes a vessel and a heating device. The vessel has a vessel wall with an inner surface enclosing a treatment chamber of a length l.sub.c, a height H and a width W. The vessel includes at least one substance inlet and at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet for non-evaporable and evaporable parts, respectively. The heating device is arranged outside the treatment chamber and a rotary mechanism includes a rotatable axle arranged within the treatment chamber directed along the treatment chamber's length h and a mixing device of radial diameter d.sub.md and axial length I.sub.md fixed to the rotatable axle and extending perpendicular to the rotatable axle. The method includes: A. heating the inner surface (la) by use of the heating device to transfer thermal energy to a minimum peripheral volume (V.sub.p) of the treatment chamber confined between the mixing device and the inner surface (la), B. rotating the rotary mechanism by use of a rotary drive operably fixed to the rotatable axle to a peripheral rotation velocity (v.sub.p) measured at a radial outer boundary of the mixing device's which exceeds a minimum peripheral rotation velocity (v.sub.p,mm) of 5 meters per second, C. feeding the substance into the treatment chamber through the at least one substance inlet using a feeding device, wherein the substance includes two or more components, where at least one of the components is evaporable at an evaporation temperature (T.sub.e), and D. adjusting at least one of an input power of the heating device, the flow of the substance fed into at least one of the at least one substance inlet, an input power of the rotary drive and an output flow of a non-evaporated part of the substance released from the at least one first outlet, such that a total thermal energy transferred into at least part of the minimum peripheral volume (V.sub.p) results in an operational temperature (T.sub.op) that exceeds the evaporation temperature (T.sub.e) during operation, and wherein the amount of thermal energy transferred into the part of the minimum peripheral volume (V.sub.p) by the heating device constitutes more than 60% of the total thermal energy transferred.

A hot water and distillation apparatus configured to simultaneously produce distilled water and hot water is disclosed. The hot water and distillation apparatus comprises a hot water tank, a condensation and evaporation chamber, an (feed water) evaporation tray provided in the condensation and evaporation chamber, a heat source thermally connected to the evaporation tray. The hot water and distillation apparatus is configured to condensate evaporated feed water from the evaporation tray by means of heat exchange between the hot water tank and a condensation surface. The condensation surface is provided at the outside surface of the hot water tank. The heat source is thermally connected to the evaporation tray. The hot water and distillation apparatus comprises a distillate collection member configured to collect distillate. The hot water tank, the evaporation tray and the distillate collection member are provided in the condensation and evaporation chamber.

A sewage treatment machine comprising: a closed container inside which the liquid to be treated is brought to boil; a vacuum-generating apparatus, which is adapted to maintain the inside of the closed container at a given pressure having a value lower than the environmental/external pressure; a heat-pump assembly which is associated to the closed container so as to be able to transfer heat to the liquid present on the bottom of the closed container, thus to bring said liquid to boil, and simultaneously remove heat from the vapours that reach the top of the closed container, thus to condense the vapour and obtain a distilled liquid, and which contains a refrigerant fluid comprising one or more gases of the family of the hydrofluoroolefins in a percentage greater than 3%.

A method is described herein, comprising vaporizing a glycol material by thermal contact with a heating medium to form a vaporized glycol stream, increasing a pressure of the vaporized glycol stream to form a pressurized glycol stream, and increasing a temperature of the heating medium by thermally contacting the heating medium with the pressurized glycol stream.

A heat and mass transfer system configured to be a passive system using gravitational force to form a thin liquid film flow on an outer surface of a flow distribution head and downstream conduit member to subject the thin liquid film to heat transfer mediums. The at least partially spherical flow distribution head creates a uniform thin flow of liquid on the outer surface increasing the efficiency of the heat and mass transfer system. The heat and mass transfer system may include a heat transfer medium supply system in fluid communication with internal aspects of the downstream conduit such that a heat transfer medium flows within the downstream conduit while the liquid film flows on the outer surface of the downstream conduit. Rather than conventional sheet flow on inner surfaces of a conduit, the flow distribution head enables sheet flow to be formed on an outside surface of a component.

A wastewater processing method includes introducing wastewater into an upper region of a chamber. The chamber remains at substantially atmospheric pressure. A portion of the wastewater in the chamber is vaporized. Flame is introduced into the chamber and provides for the ignition of a volatile organic compound. The vaporized portion of the wastewater is vented to the atmosphere.

An evaporation system for spray evaporating undesired water comprising: a first pump, a container comprising a sump, a second pump, a spray manifold comprising a spray nozzle, a packing system disposed within the container, a third pump, and an air system comprising an air blower and an air preheater is disclosed. An outlet of a water inlet is connected to an inlet of the first pump. A first portion of a ceiling of the container is constituted by a demister element such that the first portion of the ceiling is entirely configured as an outlet for evaporated water. A second portion of the ceiling is adjacent to an upper edge of a wall of the container. An outlet of the first pump is connected to an inlet of the container. An inlet of a draw line is disposed in the sump; and an outlet of the draw line is connected to an inlet of the second pump. An outlet of the second pump is connected to an inlet of the spray manifold. The spray nozzle discharges water droplets onto the packing system. An inlet of the third pump is connected to an outlet of the sump. An outlet of the third pump is connected to a discharge outlet. The air system is disposed through the wall of the container; and the air system discharges air flow counter to and/or crossways to the water droplets from the spray nozzle. A method of using the evaporation system is also disclosed.