The present disclosure relates to osmotic power plants and method for their operation. For example, a method for operating an osmotic power plant may include: supplying a starting solution containing a first substance to the thermal separating facility; evaporating the starting solution in an evaporator; discharging the substance out of the evaporator with a gaseous medium flowing through the evaporator; converting the discharged substance to a liquid phase in a condenser and thereby generating the first solution; wherein the substance is more easily converted to a gas phase than the solvent of the starting solution. The first solution has a first concentration the substance dissolved in a solvent. A second solution has a second, lesser concentration of the substance. The first solution is provided by a thermal separating facility.

An equal temperature fractional distillation chamber allows for more precise distillation by providing solid particulate matter with air spaces, such as Raschig rings, to radiate heat from the bottom of the chamber to an area where the vapors are separated. This area is unencumbered by Raschig rings or other devices and can be reduced in size, as necessary, to be less than 20% or 10% of the vertical height of the chamber. Further, a distillation key can enter from the top of the chamber and come down into the chamber with rings which encourage condensation of vapors which rise upwards. In this manner, a very controlled and accurate distillation can be achieved due to the higher heat capacity of the glass or other materials around the unencumbered region.

The invention generally relates to processes for reducing fouling in amine systems and to equipment useful in such processes. Such amine systems are useful for removing one or more acidic gases such as CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2S from olefin containing hydrocarbon streams. The invention generally relates to minimizing residence time of foulant and foulant precursors at the relatively high temperature found in the amine regenerator and/or to purging the foulant and foulant precursors from the regenerator system. This is accomplished by operating the regenerator column as a stripper (no reflux) and re-routing reflux liquid containing foulant or foulant precursors to a processing location that is less prone to fouling or, optionally, by replacing the reflux liquid with fresh make-up amine or water.

The present application relates to a distillation device. By using the distillation device of the present application, energy loss occurring during a purification process of a mixture including an isomer, for example, a raw material including n-butyl aldehyde and iso-butyl aldehyde, can be minimized, and a high-purity product can be separated, thus increasing economic efficiency of a process.

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.

The present disclosure describes an apparatus that may be used to generate desalinated water from a supply of untreated water using a photovoltaic cell. The front surface of the photovoltaic cell is partially enclosed to form an evaporation chamber. The front surface of the photovoltaic cell is exposed to sunlight or another light source. This exposure results in power generation by the photovoltaic cell and also heats the air in the evaporation chamber. Untreated water is subsequently introduced into the evaporation chamber. Upon contacting the heated air and the front surface of the photovoltaic cell, a portion of the untreated water evaporates to generate water vapor. The water vapor is then removed from the evaporation chamber and transported to a condensation chamber. The water vapor is cooled in the condensation chamber to yield desalinated water.

A solar water purifier is disclosed. The solar water purifier uses waste heat from a solar panel, or direct heat from the sun, to boil, evaporate, and condense water to create a stream of purified water. In one embodiment, a boiling tank is mounted under and in direct thermal contact with a solar panel to absorb waste heat. In another embodiment, a transparent wall of the boiling tank is directly exposed to solar energy. Unpurified water enters the boiling tank from an inlet tank. Once in the boiling tank, a stream of steam and water vapor leaves the tank and is allowed to condense within a condenser. The condenser is located within the inlet tank, such that the heat recovered during condensation is used to preheat the inlet water to the boiling tank.

This disclosure concerns a system and a method for removing dissolved solids from liquids. Specific implementations concern desalinating water. The system may comprise a blower, such as a thermal fan/compressor, configured to atomize a solid-bearing liquid to produce a hot, humid gas containing dissolved solids; a gas-solid separator configured to receive hot, humid gas containing entrained dissolved solids from the blower to separate the solids from the humid gas and to transmit the humid gas with solids removed through an exit port; a heater configured to heat the hot, humid gas received from the exit port of the gas-solid separator; and a condenser configured to receive heated humid gas from the heater and to condense solids-free liquid therefrom. The thermal fan/compressor may comprise a plurality of nozzles with outlets positioned adjacent atomization apertures across which a solid-bearing liquid flows and through which gas exiting the nozzles passes.

A system for desalination of salt water using solar energy. The system includes an inner channel for flow of salt water there through, the inner channel having a cover thereover that is water vapor impermeable yet UV transparent or transmissive. A collection channel for collecting clean water extends along the inner channel. By having the inlet of salt water to the inner channel elevated in relation to the outlet of salt water from the inner channel, the salt water flow naturally through the channel. A solar-powered pump can be used to provide the salt water to the inlet.