The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.

A brine machine comprises a salt hopper, a source of water for wetting salt in the salt hopper, a brine hopper positioned in side-by-side relation relative to the salt hopper, a filter providing fluid communication between the salt hopper and the brine hopper, a generally horizontal auger positioned in a base of the salt hopper, and an upwardly directed lift auger having a first end in operable association with an end of the horizontal auger and a second discharge end positioned above a level of brine in the brine hopper. The augers convey solid material from the base of the salt hopper and discharge the material from the machine.

The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.

A solid ice melting composition is composed of pelletized salt, the pelletized salt having a plurality of salt particles pressed together, inter-particle spaces between the salt particles inside the pelletized salt, and a deicing liquid in the inter-particle spaces. The composition is produced by pelletizing a plurality of salt particles to form pelletized salt, and introducing deicing liquid into inter-particles spaces between the salt particles in the pelletized salt by infusing the deicing liquid into the pelletized salt. The solid ice melting composition is easy to handle and spread, is longer lasting and is effective at temperatures down to about 30 C. or lower.

A device for melting snow includes a snow melting sheet formed of a plurality of particles of a snow and ice melting compound. The sheet is coated with a water-soluble adhesive coating applied to the particles of the snow and ice melting compound to bind the particles to form a sheet. After an area of ice and snow is melted with the sheet, the sheet simply dissolves. The sheets are presented in either a roll with perforations for tearing or a stack of connected or disconnected sheets.

A de-icing lubricant composition is provided, including isopropyl alcohol; and mineral oil. The isopropyl alcohol may be 60-90% of the composition by weight. The mineral oil may be 10-30% of the composition by weight. The composition may include a dye and/or a propellant. The propellant may be CO2. A method of restoring mobility to frozen components is also provided by applying a composition as described above to a frozen component.

The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.

The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.

Disclosed is an aqueous deicing and/or anti-icing composition, and the use thereof on areas in need of deicing and/or anti-icing, exhibiting substantially improved corrosion inhibition, conductivity inhibition and/or hydrogen embrittlement inhibition. Said composition comprises 40-60% by weight of at least one alkali metal carboxylate, 0.1-0.5% by weight of benzoic acid and/or at least one alkali metal benzoate, 0.05-0.5% by weight of at least one alkali metal phosphate, 0.005-0.05% by weight of at least one alkali metal metasilicate, and 0.01-0.15% by weight of succinic acid and/or at least one alkali metal succinate. Balance to 100% by weight is water and said composition is pH adjusted to pH 9-12 by addition of at least one alkali metal hydroxide and/or carbonate. Disclosed is also a method of obtaining corrosion inhibition, conductivity inhibition and/or hydrogen embrittlement inhibition by addition of 0.01-0.15% by weight of succinic acid and/or at least one alkali metal succinate to an aqueous deicing and/or anti-icing composition.

The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.