A continuous flow treatment apparatus comprises a heating fluid management portion and a feces treatment portion. The heating fluid management portion is configured to heat heating fluid and provide the heated heating fluid to a heat exchanger. The feces treatment portion comprises the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive feces at a first position of the heat exchanger, indirectly heat the feces via the heated heating fluid as the feces are transported from the first position to a second position of the heat exchanger, and provide the heated feces at the second position. The feces are maintained at a minimum temperature for a predetermined amount of time such that the feces exiting the feces treatment portion have been rendered sanitary for at least one of storage or further processing.

A device for storage and exchange of thermal energy of solar origin, which device is configured to receive a concentrated solar radiation using an optical system of beam down type, which device comprises: a containment casing which defines an internal compartment and has an upper opening configured to allow entry of the concentrated solar radiation, which opening puts in direct communication the internal compartment with the external environment having no closure or screen means; a bed of fluidizable solid particles, received within the internal compartment, which bed has an irradiated operative region directly exposed, in use, to the concentrated solar radiation that enters through said opening and a heat accumulation region adjacent to said operative region; fluidization elements of the bed of particles, configured to feed fluidization air within the compartment, which fluidization means is configured to determine different fluid-dynamic regimens in the operative region and in the accumulation region, based upon different fluidization speeds, wherein, in use, the particles of the operative region absorb thermal energy from the solar radiation and they give it to the particles of the accumulation region.

A device for storage and exchange of thermal energy of solar origin, which device is configured to receive a concentrated solar radiation using an optical system of beam down type, which device comprises: a containment casing which defines an internal compartment and has an upper opening configured to allow entry of the concentrated solar radiation, which opening puts in direct communication the internal compartment with the external environment having no closure or screen means; a bed of fluidizable solid particles, received within the internal compartment, which bed has an irradiated operative region directly exposed, in use, to the concentrated solar radiation that enters through said opening and a heat accumulation region adjacent to said operative region; fluidization elements of the bed of particles, configured to feed fluidization air within the compartment, which fluidization means is configured to determine different fluid-dynamic regimens in the operative region and in the accumulation region, based upon different fluidization speeds, wherein, in use, the particles of the operative region absorb thermal energy from the solar radiation and they give it to the particles of the accumulation region.

A system for heating a work fluid and for air circulation comprises a plurality of collectors fitted top-to-top in one or more columns, such that air ducts of the modules constitute a single duct along a column, wherein the solar collector comprises: one solar radiation planar absorber with one anterior face exposed to solar radiation and another posterior face affixed to the work fluid piping; one duct for exchanging heat with the planar absorber via the air duct which has its air inlet and outlet on opposite tops of the solar collector. The system can additionally comprise a descendent air duct to collect air from the upper part of the building and to supply air to the lower side of one or more columns of the facade.

A water cooling and heating system for swimming pools and hot tubs for heating and/or cooling a flow of water drawn from a body of water and then returning the heated and/or cooled flow of water back to the body of water wherein the system includes an inner conduit within an outer conduit, the outer conduit having an exterior conduit surface that is exposed to solar energy from the sun whereby a portion of the solar energy absorbed by the outer conduit is transferred to and heats an outer water flow within the outer conduit and the outer water flow in the outer conduit heating an inner water flow of water in the inner conduit, the system further including at least one control valve to selectively control a flow of water to the inner and outer conduits and a bypass flow of water that is directed back toward the body of water.

Elliptical cylinder collector for thermal solar energy comprising a first pipe and a reflector surface, which also comprises a second pipe and a third pipe, wherein the reflector surface has a generatrix which is half an ellipse and wherein the second pipe and the third pipe are located at focal points of the ellipse and the first pipe is located on a minor axis of the ellipse at a greater distance from the reflector surface than the second pipe and the third pipe, the first pipe is also located at the focal point of an imaginary parabola whose vertex is located at the negative end of the minor axis of the ellipse.

Elliptical cylinder collector for thermal solar energy comprising a first pipe and a reflector surface, which also comprises a second pipe and a third pipe, wherein the reflector surface has a generatrix which is half an ellipse and wherein the second pipe and the third pipe are located at focal points of the ellipse and the first pipe is located on a minor axis of the ellipse at a greater distance from the reflector surface than the second pipe and the third pipe, the first pipe is also located at the focal point of an imaginary parabola whose vertex is located at the negative end of the minor axis of the ellipse.

Apparatus operable using concentrated solar radiation, the apparatus comprising a body having a cavity adapted to receive concentrated solar radiation, a heat energy absorber associated with the cavity to receive heat from concentrated solar radiation within the cavity, a chamber containing a body of matter, the chamber being in heat exchange relation with the heat energy absorber to receive heat therefrom for heating the body of matter, and an inlet means for introducing fluid into the chamber for contacting the contained body of matter. Also, a reactor system for contacting a reactant liquid with two gaseous reactants, the reactor system comprising two reactors interconnected for circulation of a reactant liquid therebetween, whereby the circulating reactant liquid is enabled to react with a gaseous reactant introduced into one reactor and to also react with a gaseous reactant introduced into the other reactor.

Apparatus operable using concentrated solar radiation, the apparatus comprising a body having a cavity adapted to receive concentrated solar radiation, a heat energy absorber associated with the cavity to receive heat from concentrated solar radiation within the cavity, a chamber containing a body of matter, the chamber being in heat exchange relation with the heat energy absorber to receive heat therefrom for heating the body of matter, and an inlet means for introducing fluid into the chamber for contacting the contained body of matter. Also, a reactor system for contacting a reactant liquid with two gaseous reactants, the reactor system comprising two reactors interconnected for circulation of a reactant liquid therebetween, whereby the circulating reactant liquid is enabled to react with a gaseous reactant introduced into one reactor and to also react with a gaseous reactant introduced into the other reactor.

The invention, in some embodiments, relates to solar energy collectors, and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments, the invention relates to liquid-air transpired solar energy collectors, and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments, the invention relates to thermal energy transfer systems that comprise solar energy collectors, and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments of the invention, methods of constructing solar energy collectors are provided.