Systems and methods are provided for heating and manipulating a fluid to heat the fluid, evaporate water from the fluid, concentrate the fluid, separate the fluid into fractions; and/or pasteurize the fluid, comprising a closed-loop heating subsystem coupled to a primary fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, and one or more fluid manipulation subsystems also coupled to the primary fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger.

A humidification-dehumidification water purification system and method is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of evaporator/condenser units and heat exchanger, preferably a solar collector. Contaminated water flows through successive condenser stages to the heat exchanger, and from there through successive evaporator stages. A flow of air is directed through successive evaporator stages in the direction opposite to the flow of water, where it is humidified by water vapor evaporating from the water. The humidified air passes through the successive condenser stages, where it is cooled, thereby condensing pure water and dehumidifying the air. The pure water is extracted from the system, and the dehumidified air can be recirculated through the system. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the evaporator/condenser units are stacked beneath the solar collector, and the system is fully portable and modular and can be either land- or water borne.

A method of thermally servicing a solvent-refining column comprises: running a closed-loop water-steam system past a top and bottom of a first column, the first column containing at least a solvent and impurities; boiling pressurized water in the closed-loop water-steam system to steam using first heat from the top of the first column; compressing the steam in the closed-loop water-steam system to a higher temperature; and providing second heat to the first column by condensing the steam at the bottom of the first column after compression.

Systems and methods are provided for heating and manipulating a fluid to heat the fluid, evaporate water from the fluid, concentrate the fluid, separate the fluid into fractions; and/or pasteurize the fluid, comprising a closed-loop heating subsystem coupled to a primary fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, and one or more fluid manipulation subsystems also coupled to the primary fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger.

The present invention discloses a process and an apparatus for treatment of petroleum sludges, emulsions and water bearing hydrocarbons wherein initially unbound water; salts; solids; water-free, free-flowing hydrocarbons are removed followed by separation into plurality of fractions that undergo rapid foam induced boiling and consequent steam-stripping of low boiling hydrocarbons from viscous hydrocarbons followed by hot water spray to enhance said foaming and steam-stripping, for further removal of fine water droplets present in a thin film through boiling during thermal foam breaking. The high boiling point water droplets are boiled out in the thermal foam breaker followed by separation of entrained liquid, condensation and separation of water and low boiling hydrocarbons. The residual water fraction in viscous hydrocarbons is removed through thin film boiling. The original hydrocarbons are recovered in marketable forms in two separate fractions thereby recovering bound and unbound water for environmentally safe applications thereof.