Solar thermal devices are formed from a block of wood, where the natural cell lumens of the wood form an interconnected network that transports fluid or material therein. The block of wood can be modified to increase absorption of solar radiation. Combining the solar absorption effects with the natural transport network can be used for various applications. In some embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to evaporate a fluid, for example, evaporating water for extraction, distillation, or desalination. In other embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to change transport properties of a material to allow it to be transported in the interconnected network, for example, heating crude oil to adsorb the oil within the block of wood.

A method for circulating hot air in a solar desalination system includes providing a desalination structure having an air flow path defined between an external surface layer and an internal surface layer. A return flow conduit provides an internal fluid flow path. Saline water is pumped through a center column in a direction from the base towards the peak. The saline water is delivered through a nozzle that extends through a sidewall of the center column to provide a mist within the desalination structure exterior of the center column. An air flow within the air flow path is heated to form a hot air supply. The mist is heated with the hot air supply to form an evaporated fluid. A diverted portion of the hot air supply is delivered into the return flow conduit and mixed with an ambient air to form and heat the air flow.

A hot water and distillation apparatus configured to simultaneously produce distilled water and hot water is disclosed. The hot water and distillation apparatus comprises a hot water tank, a condensation and evaporation chamber, an (feed water) evaporation tray provided in the condensation and evaporation chamber, a heat source thermally connected to the evaporation tray. The hot water and distillation apparatus is configured to condensate evaporated feed water from the evaporation tray by means of heat exchange between the hot water tank and a condensation surface. The condensation surface is provided at the outside surface of the hot water tank. The heat source is thermally connected to the evaporation tray. The hot water and distillation apparatus comprises a distillate collection member configured to collect distillate. The hot water tank, the evaporation tray and the distillate collection member are provided in the condensation and evaporation chamber.

A novel solar-powered desalination and water purification system is disclosed herein. The system includes a nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel, an untreated water source, a water collection surface, and a purified water storage container. A novel photocatalytic nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel for desalination and photodegradation of contaminants for use in the disclosed system is also disclosed herein. The nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel exhibits excellent hydrophilicity, thermal insulation, and photodegradation capability, and allows for efficient solar-powered evaporation of water. The introduction of photocatalytic nanofibers into the graphene aerogel allows effective interfacial evaporation and in situ photodegradation of contaminants. The rate of water evaporation is preferably greater than 1.3 gal/ft.sup.2 per day, and the contaminant removal is preferably greater than 90%. A method of desalinating and purifying water using the disclosed system is also disclosed herein.

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 invention relates to 100% renewably-powered desalination/water purification stations for universal applications, the station is disruptive, scalable, amphibious and deportable to seawater, brackish or spill oil sites for simple wave-powered and autonomous operations, the station has a mooring assembly with pumping-purification-delivery subsystems powered by wave and solar energies, the pumping subsystems has the simplest, most efficient wave push/pull pump mechanisms powered by amplified wave centrifugal forces , the mechanical purifications has turbine filters, reverse-osmosis filters, forward-osmosis filters and relief valves to backwash buildups without releasing brine, release water through collecting spill oil, the solar thermal purifications are provided with distilling processes under vaccine conditions, the delivery subsystems with wave turbines and solar panels for generating electricity, propellering and transferring the stations for delivering fresh waters to destinations under GPS guide with the lowest LCOW.

A system for distilling water is disclosed. The system comprises a heat source, and a plurality of open-cycle adsorption stages, each stage comprising a plurality of beds and an evaporator and a condenser between a first bed and a second bed, wherein each bed comprises at least two vapor valves, a plurality of hollow tubes, a plurality of channels adapted for transferring water vapor to and from at least one of the condenser or the evaporator, a thermally conductive water vapor adsorbent, and wherein each vapor valve connects a bed to either the condenser or the evaporator.

The sub-ambient solar desalination system includes a solar pond and a pressure reducing structure. The solar pond is adapted for receiving saltwater and heating the saltwater through direct exposure to solar radiation at atmospheric pressure. The pressure reducing structure is in fluid communication with the solar pond for receiving heated saltwater therefrom. The pressure reducing structure is configured such that pressure of the heated saltwater within a central portion of the pressure reducing structure is at sufficiently reduced sub-ambient pressure to undergo a phase change to produce pure water vapor and a concentrated brine solution. The pressure reducing structure has a vapor outlet for releasing the pure water vapor, which is collected in a fresh water tank and condensed into pure liquid water. The solar pond is in fluid communication with an outlet portion of the pressure reducing structure for recycling the concentrated brine solution back to the solar pond.

A heating system for use in the solar powered heating of water. In one embodiment, the heating system is used in conjunction with a solar water farm to desalinate water. The water farm can be utilized on a variety of scales and can be applied to agricultural farms for large scale reclamation of deserts.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for enhancing the performance and efficiency of separation processes. The methods include flowing a fluid through a processing zone defined by an antiferromagnetic portion of a conduit and, as the fluid flows through the processing zone, exposing the fluid to a magnetic field produced by oscillating electromagnetic waves, wherein the direction of the magnetic field is generally counter to the direction in which the fluid is flowing. The systems include magnetic treatment units, separation systems, and the like.