A Salinity Gradient Solar Pond has saturated salt water in the bottom of the pond and nearly fresh water at the top, with a gradient zone between the top and bottom. Due to this salinity stratification the upward diffusion of salt is a natural consequence in SGSP's. This upward diffusion of salt has been found to range 60-80 gr/m.sup.2/day (Tabor, H.; Solar Ponds, Solar Energy, v. 27 (3), pp. 181-194, 1981 and v. 30 (1), pp. 85-86, 1983). Controlling the salinity gradient in SGSP systems is vital to their reliable operation. One proposed method for controlling the salinity gradient is the so called Falling Pond method, where water is extracted from the saturated bottom layer by some means and returned to the nearly fresh upper layer. This action creates a downward velocity in the pond's layers which can be matched to counter the upward diffusion of salt, thereby maintaining the pond's gradient stationary in space.

Three embodiments of an invention are disclosed in which sea water undergoes a desalination process accompanied by production of salable energy of value greater than the cost of the fossil fuel required, and which discharges brine to the sea at a temperature and salinity harmless to sea life.

Three embodiments of an invention are disclosed in which sea water undergoes a desalination process accompanied by production of salable energy of value greater than the cost of the fossil fuel required, and which discharges brine to the sea at a temperature and salinity harmless to sea life.

A distillation/extraction insert may attach to a vessel containing liquid to be distilled, and may use heated water circulating through a heating coil, as well as draw a partial vacuum to induce boiling. A condensation coil may collect the vapor and condense the vapor into distillate. A controller may monitor various temperatures and vacuum level to precisely control the heated water being used to boil components in the liquid. The heated water may be created by a beer making machine, which may have a temperature controlled recirculating water system. The insert may be a self-contained unit that attaches to a vessel, where the vessel may also be used for fermenting brewer's mash for distillation. In some cases, an extraction chamber may be used for collecting essential oils from various materials.

A distillation/extraction insert may attach to a vessel containing liquid to be distilled, and may use heated water circulating through a heating coil, as well as draw a partial vacuum to induce boiling. A condensation coil may collect the vapor and condense the vapor into distillate. A controller may monitor various temperatures and vacuum level to precisely control the heated water being used to boil components in the liquid. The heated water may be created by a beer making machine, which may have a temperature controlled recirculating water system. The insert may be a self-contained unit that attaches to a vessel, where the vessel may also be used for fermenting brewer's mash for distillation. In some cases, an extraction chamber may be used for collecting essential oils from various materials.

A device for converting a liquid into vapor, having an evaporation surface, a liquid inlet, a heater for heating the evaporation surface, a flow controller, a control unit configured to control a liquid flow rate injected into the liquid inlet, a chamber containing the evaporation surface, and a temperature sensor arranged on the evaporation surface. The control unit is configured to control a heating power of the heater according to a flow rate and to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor according to a predetermined control law. The predetermined control law varies, for each flow rate, non-linearly and inversely proportionally to the difference between a reference temperature of the chamber and the measured temperature.

A device for converting a liquid into vapor, having an evaporation surface, a liquid inlet, a heater for heating the evaporation surface, a flow controller, a control unit configured to control a liquid flow rate injected into the liquid inlet, a chamber containing the evaporation surface, and a temperature sensor arranged on the evaporation surface. The control unit is configured to control a heating power of the heater according to a flow rate and to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor according to a predetermined control law. The predetermined control law varies, for each flow rate, non-linearly and inversely proportionally to the difference between a reference temperature of the chamber and the measured temperature.

A microfluidic device, for use in separation systems, includes a substrate having a fluidic channel. One or more heaters made of a thick film material are integrated with the substrate and in thermal communication with the fluidic channel of the substrate. The one or more heaters produce a thermal gradient within the fluidic channel in response to a current flowing through the one or more heaters. A plurality of electrically conductive taps can be in electrically conductive contact with the one or more heaters. The plurality of electrically conductive taps provides an electrically conductive path to the one or more heaters by which an electrical supply can produce the current flowing through the one or more heaters. Alternatively, the thick film material can be ferromagnetic, and the electrical supply can use induction to cause the current to flow through the one or more heaters.

A water vending apparatus is disclosed. The water vending system includes a water vapor distillation apparatus and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and the product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device.

A water vending apparatus is disclosed. The water vending system includes a water vapor distillation apparatus and a dispensing device. The dispensing device is in fluid communication with the fluid vapor distillation apparatus and the product water from the fluid vapor distillation apparatus is dispensed by the dispensing device.