A thermoelectric power generation system 20 includes a heat exchanger 1 having double tubes which are an inner tube 1a and an outer tube 1b, and a thermoelectric power generation module 2 mounted between the inner tube and the outer tube. The thermoelectric power generation module generates thermoelectric power using a temperature difference between a medium inside the inner tube and a medium outside the outer tube, and a highly thermal conductive elastic sheet 3a, 3b is mounted between the thermoelectric power generation module and the inner tube and/or the outer tube in close contact therewith.

Techniques for solar thermal water purification by recycling photovoltaic reflection losses are provided. In one aspect, a solar thermal water purification system includes: a water purification component for desalinating salt water, the water purification component having multiple stages through which the salt water passes, and condensers in each of the stages; and a photovoltaic component configured to heat the salt water prior to the salt water entering a first stage of the water purification component, wherein desalinated water evaporates and condenses in each of the stages to be collected as pure water. A system using reverse osmosis and a heat-driven water pump is also provided. Methods for water purification are also provided.

Condensing apparatuses and their use in various heat and mass exchange systems are generally described. The condensing apparatuses, such as bubble column condensers, may employ a heat exchanger positioned external to the condensing vessel to remove heat from a bubble column condenser outlet stream to produce a heat exchanger outlet stream. In certain cases, the condensing apparatus may also include a cooling device positioned external to the vessel configured and positioned to remove heat from the heat exchanger outlet stream to produce a cooling device outlet stream. The condensing apparatus may be configured to include various internal features, such as a vapor distribution region and/or a plurality of liquid flow control weirs and/or chambers within the apparatus having an aspect ratio of at least 1.5. A condensing apparatus may be coupled with a humidifier to form part of a desalination system, in certain cases.

The invention provides a method for computational fluid dynamics and apparatuses making enable an efficient implementation and use of an enhanced jet-effect, either the Coanda-jet-effect, the hydrophobic jet-effect, or the waving-jet-effect, triggered by specifically shaped corpuses and tunnels. The method is based on the approaches of the kinetic theory of matter providing generalized equations of fluid motion and is generalized and translated into terms of electromagnetism. The method is applicable for slow-flowing as well as fast-flowing real compressible-extendable generalized fluids and enables optimal design of convergent-divergent nozzles, providing for the most efficient jet-thrust. The method can be applied to airfoil shape optimization for bodies flying separately and in a multi-stage cascaded sequence. The method enables apparatuses for electricity harvesting from the fluid heat-energy, providing a positive net-efficiency. The method enables generators for practical-expedient power harvesting using constructive interference of waves due to the waving jet-effect.

The invention provides a method for computational fluid dynamics and apparatuses making enable an efficient implementation and use of an enhanced jet-effect, either the Coanda-jet-effect, the hydrophobic jet-effect, or the waving-jet-effect, triggered by specifically shaped corpuses and tunnels. The method is based on the approaches of the kinetic theory of matter providing generalized equations of fluid motion and is generalized and translated into terms of electromagnetism. The method is applicable for slow-flowing as well as fast-flowing real compressible-extendable generalized fluids and enables optimal design of convergent-divergent nozzles, providing for the most efficient jet-thrust. The method can be applied to airfoil shape optimization for bodies flying separately and in a multi-stage cascaded sequence. The method enables apparatuses for electricity harvesting from the fluid heat-energy, providing a positive net-efficiency. The method enables generators for practical-expedient power harvesting using constructive interference of waves due to the waving jet-effect.

A high efficiency distillation head and methods of use has a distillation head that may be used for efficient fractional distillation of high boiling point compounds, and includes a lower insulated jacket surrounding a fractionating column and an upper insulated jacket surrounding a condenser. An exit path of equal or greater cross sectional area to the fractionating column is located at or below the top of the fractionating column.

A system and method for cleaning dirty water is disclosed. The systems and methods may include two heat exchangers, including a high temperature/high pressure (HT/HP) heat exchanger that receives superheated steam and hydrogen gas and a low temperature/low pressure (LT/LP) that receives steam at a reduced temperature and pressure. The LT/LP heat exchanger provides first stage heating to dirty water that is input into the system for cleansing. The LT/LP heat exchanger has a first coil and a second coil. The first coil carries the dirty water to be cleaned. The HT/HP heat exchanger provides a second stage of heating to the dirty water that is output from the LT/LP heat exchanger. A first coil of the HT/HP heat exchanger carries the superheated steam and hydrogen gas. A second coil carries the preheated dirty water that is output from the LT/LP heat exchanger.

Provided herein are systems, devices and methods for generating water from atmospheric air, making use of a molecular selective processing unit and a vapor exchange unit to efficiently generate pure water from water vapors, selectively separated from air.

A system and method removes thermal decomposition components from biphenol and/or diphenyl oxide heat-transfer fluids. Light, volatile decomposition components such as benzene, water, hydrogen and phenol are passed out of the system for vapor recovery, chemical adsorption or thermal decomposition. Dimerized and polymerized heavy components such as biphenyl phenyl ether, terphenyl and isomers of each are concentrated and recovered for reprocessing and purification for reuse. The system can be operated as either a continuous, semi-continuous or batch operation. Solar electric plants employing the system can use solar field fluids and heating to operate the system during generator operation hours. A wash system operating at or near atmospheric pressure concentrates heavy thermal decomposition components while allowing light, volatile decomposition components to be removed for separation from the majority of the thermal fluid components. Temperature-controlled condensation of the majority of the thermal fluid components allows collection of the thermal fluid, while allowing light, volatile decomposition components to be removed from the system prior to vent processing.

A water-harvesting system can operate with a material that can take up and release water with minimum energy requirements and powered by low-grade energy sources, such as sunlight, in order to potentially allow its deployment into households, especially those located in sunny regions. A water-harvesting method and system can include vapor adsorption using a porous metal-organic framework. In certain embodiments, the porous metal-organic framework can include metal-organic framework in ambient air with low relative humidity, typical of the levels found in most dry regions of the world.