A thermal transistor is provided. The thermal transistor includes a metallic thermal conductor, a non-metallic thermal conductor, and a thermal resistance adjusting unit. The metallic thermal conductor and the non-metallic thermal conductor are contact with each other to form a thermal interface. The thermal resistance adjusting unit is configured to generate an bias voltage U.sub.12 between the metallic thermal conductor and the non-metallic thermal conductor.

A system is provided for rapidly cooling a pot or boiler. The system includes a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical tube operatively connected to the pot or boiler. The tube also includes a means for attaching a water source or hose. Finally, the tube may also include a series of holes or nozzles for directing a stream or spray of water towards the outer surface of the pot or boiler. The system may be built into the pot or boiler or may be a standalone, removable and adjustable system for use on multiple different pots or boilers.

A gas production line including: an inlet; an outlet; and a wet gas condenser connected between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the wet gas condenser includes: a condensing chamber; a condensing surface; and a collecting chamber, wherein, in use, water vapour in wet gas passing over the condensing surface is condensed into liquid water, the liquid water flowing along a predetermined flow path into the collecting chamber.

A system for controlling temperature of a body (6) comprising a DBD actuator (9) connectable to a power source to produce an ionic wind on the body; a control unit (8) to select an initial configuration and to control the power source (5) depending on a temperature difference (?T) between an input temperature (T.sub.i) and a target temperature (T.sub.ta) on the body (6), wherein the initial configuration comprises the following constructive parameters of the DBD actuator: number, shape, geometry, relative position of electrodes (d), dielectric material, dielectric thickness (e), wherein the initial configuration further comprises the following setting parameters to be set in the power source (5): a frequency value (f), an amplitude value (V), a waveform signal and a duty cycle, wherein the control unit (8) adjusts the initial configuration by modifying any of the setting parameters to control the heat transferred to the surface of the body.

Systems and methods are described for rapid sterilization of items in a vacuum or sterilization chamber. Embodiments include conductively heated, vacuum-based sterilization approaches that can be applied to devices, such as medical devices, electronic devices, and other suitable devices. For example, an item that has been exposed to excessive contamination is placed inside the sterilization chamber. The chamber can be depressurized to a vacuum level sufficient to gasify liquids inside a solid matrix holding a liquid sterilant, and the item can be conductively heated at least to replace latent heat of vaporization lost during the depressurization. Some embodiments include techniques relating to quality processing, monitoring and feedback control, and/or other functionality.

A fixture for use in heating an article, which article has two open ends and portions that define an interior space. The fixture includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first cover for covering one open end of an article. The second component includes a second cover for covering another open end of the article. At least one of the first and second components includes a mechanism for joining the first and second components together around the article in a spaced apart relationship. At least one of the components includes a port for transferring heat into the interior space of the article. A method of using the fixture for heating a portion of a turbine engine in order to service the same is also provided.

A semi-passive cooling system for a component exposed to a fluid flow utilizes a hierarchical vasculature and a sacrificial transpirant to cool the component. The component includes a body that defines a transpirant reservoir and the hierarchical vasculature. The transpirant is configured to transition between a solid phase and a vapor phase over an operating temperature range of the component.

Systems and methods for generating a thin film of a fluid are described. In an embodiment, a fluid support structure may be configured to receive a fluid, such as water, at a top surface and to support the fluid over at least a portion of the top surface. Channels may be formed in the top surface of the fluid support structure. Wiper blades may be configured to move over the top surface in contact with at least a portion of the fluid to form the fluid into a thin film. The wiper blades may include protrusions corresponding to the channels. As the wiper blades move over the top surface, the protrusions may move within the channels forming a thin film of the fluid within the channels. According to some embodiments, the fluid support structure may be configured as an evaporation surface configured to facilitate the evaporation of the fluid.

A stage includes a heat exchanger, a plate provided on the heat exchanger and including a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to each other, the plate having a plurality of through-holes extending in a plate thickness direction, and an electrostatic chuck having a top surface on which a substrate is mounted and a bottom surface attached to the first main surface. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of first tubes having a plurality of opening ends facing a plurality of regions on the bottom surface which are exposed to the respective through-holes and a plurality of second tubes communicating with the through-holes.

A system for cooling down a boiling vessel, such as a pot, including at least a first length of tubing encircling an outer wall of the pipe, and having a fluid flow bore through its length, supported by opposing handles of the pot; a connector for engaging an end of a water line to the first length of tubing; a source of water introduced into the first length of tubing, under pressure, so that the water travels through the entire first length of tubing; a plurality of flow openings spaced along the walls of the first length of tubing, so that water is sprayed from the openings against the outer wall of the pot from both the first length of tubing, to cool the pot along its entire outer wall. There may be further provided additional lengths of tubing spraying water against the pot wall and a collection pan positioned below the pot to collect water flowing off of the wall of the pot, so that the water can flow from the pan into a hose to direct the water to a point away from the boiling pot.