A method for improved anaerobic digestion is presented. The method includes mixing a volume of waste material with water to form a feedstock mixture. The volume of waste material includes an initial amount of biomass and the feedstock mixture includes methanogenic bacteria either naturally present in the waste material or introduced artificially. The method also includes introducing one or more promoter substances to the feedstock mixture. The one or more promoter substances are capable of modifying the methanogenic bacteria. Modifying includes stimulating novel enzyme production in the methanogenic bacteria.

A seawater desalination system for desalinating seawater by removing salinity from the seawater and an energy recovery apparatus which is preferably used in the seawater desalination system. The energy recovery apparatus includes a cylindrical chamber being installed such that a longitudinal direction of the chamber is placed in a vertical direction, a concentrated seawater port for supplying and discharging the concentrated seawater, a seawater port for supplying and discharging the seawater, a flow resistor provided at a concentrated seawater port side in the chamber, and a flow resistor provided at a seawater port side in the chamber. Each of the flow resistor provided at the concentrated seawater port side and the seawater port side comprises at least one perforated circular plate, and each perforated circular plate has a plurality of holes formed in an outer circumferential area outside a circle having a predetermined diameter on the perforated circular plate.

The solar desalination and power generating system is a hybrid system combining a Fresnel solar concentrator with a solar desalination still, and further including at least one concentrating photovoltaic cell for simultaneously generating electrical power. The solar still includes an absorber base, at least one sidewall, and a hollow cover. The hollow cover has an inlet port for receiving seawater, which passes through an interior of the hollow cover and exits through at least one outlet port into an open interior region of the solar still. At least one collection duct collects pure water condensate. A vacuum pump selectively lowers the pressure within the open interior region of the solar still. The solar still is suspended above a linear Fresnel reflector array such that the at least one concentrating photovoltaic cell, mounted to a lower surface of the absorber base, is positioned at a focal line thereof.

A method for improved anaerobic digestion is presented. The method includes mixing a volume of waste material with water to form a feedstock mixture. The volume of waste material includes an initial amount of biomass and the feedstock mixture includes methanogenic bacteria either naturally present in the waste material or introduced artificially. The method also includes introducing one or more promoter substances to the feedstock mixture. The one or more promoter substances are capable of modifying the methanogenic bacteria. Modifying includes stimulating novel enzyme production in the methanogenic bacteria.

A water desalination device, comprising:

a body having a lateral wall and defining a cavity for the desalination of water, wherein in said cavity are defined a desalination chamber and a condensation chamber, wherein the condensation chamber comprises a collection portion for desalinated water,

a heater, configured to heat the water to desalinate in order to produce a steam,

a cooler, configured to determine a condensation of a steam deriving from the heating of the water,

wherein

the heater comprises a duct within which flows seawater at a first temperature (T1),

the cooler comprises a duct within which flows seawater at a second temperature (T2),

wherein said water desalination device is configured to maintain a pressure lower with respect to the atmospheric one within said cavity, and is operatively connected with a vacuum pump connected with said cavity,

said water desalination device comprising a first supply device configured to supply seawater at said first temperature (T1) into the duct of the heater, and a second supply device configured to supply seawater at said second temperature (T2) into the duct of the cooler.

A system for desalinating water is disclosed. The system comprises a subsea reverse osmosis unit located beneath the surface of a body of water, a first liquid column comprising seawater, a second liquid column comprising desalinated water with a salinity less than seawater, and a brine discharge outlet. Due to the difference in density between the seawater and the desalinated water, the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the first liquid column may be greater than the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the second liquid column. At least a portion of the pressure difference for reverse osmosis desalination may be provided by the difference in gravitational hydrostatic pressure between the first liquid column and the second liquid column. A significant reduction in desalination energy consumption may be enabled by discharging the brine at an elevation lower than the maximum elevation of the first liquid column or the second liquid column.

An electrochemical water softening device is described comprising a containment module where bicarbonates are removed by solid-phase precipitation in a basic environment and by conversion into carbon dioxide in an acidic environment.

A mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) arrangement includes a compound turbine system, a pressure-tight enclosure provided with a first end and a second end, having an essentially circular cylindrical elongated shape along a longitudinal axis A, and a central tube with an essentially circular cross-section and running within the enclosure to allow steam to flow from the second end to the first end. The MVR arrangement includes an inner central tube arranged concentrically within the central tube and running from the second end to, or towards, the first end, where the inner central tube has an outer diameter related to the inner diameter of the central tube such that a steam flow conducting space is provided between an outer surface of the inner central tube and an inner surface of the central tube. The compound turbine system includes a turbine assembly with a turbine having axial turbine vane members.

Systems for water desalination are disclosed. The systems include a source of non-potable water, a low pressure nanofiltration device, a first electrodialysis unit, a second electrodialysis unit, and recycle conduits. Methods of water desalination including directing non-potable water to a low pressure nanofiltration device, a first electrodialysis unit, and a second electrodialysis unit are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating water desalination by providing a water desalination system are also disclosed.

A process for treating waste waters with TDS?20 g/l, possibly containing organic substances, includes the following steps: a. separating the saline wastewater or waste waters from suspended solids and heavy pollutants by physical separation, forming a saline stream free of suspended solids and heavy pollutants; b. subjecting the saline stream to reverse electro-dialysis, using a reservoir solution to reduce the saline concentration and forming a diluate and a diluted stream (waste water) with TDS not higher than 20 g/l; and c. biologically treating the diluted stream obtained in (b) forming biological sludge, or excess sludge, and clarified water.