A thermal diffusion unit is fluidly connected to a combustion engine via a flue line. The thermal diffusion unit has a plurality of plates assembled in a parallel configuration, including a pair of heating plates having a heating fluid gap extending therebetween and a pair of cooling plates having a cooling fluid gap extending therebetween. A diffusion sheet is positioned between the pair of heating plates and the pair of cooling plates, such that the diffusion sheet interfaces on a first side with one of the heating plates and interfaces on an opposite side with one of the cooling plates. The diffusion sheet includes a plurality of interconnected thermal diffusion cells arranged in a repeating pattern, at least one heated passage fluidly connecting adjacent thermal diffusion cells, and at least one cooled passage fluidly connecting adjacent thermal diffusion cells.

Systems and methods for the controlled release of a guest composition that is sequestered within a host composition made up of an anisotropic fluid are disclosed. The guest composition is immiscible in the host composition, thus forming an interface between the compositions upon which elastic repulsion forces act to prevent the release of the guest composition from the host composition. The disclosed systems and methods work by changing the elastic repulsion forces and/or introducing one or more counter forces such that the elastic repulsion forces are no longer sufficient to prevent release of the guest composition. Exemplary methods include mechanically changing the host material (e.g., changing its temperature) or inducing a chemical (e.g., electrostatic) attraction sufficient to overcome the elastic repulsion forces. The disclosed systems and methods can be used for a variety of applications requiring “on-demand” delivery of a chemical composition.

An embodiment of the disclosed technology provides a microfluidic cooling device including a microfluidic pathway and a thermoelectric cooling element. The microfluidic pathway can include an inlet to receive a sample at a first temperature and an outlet to output a first phase and second phase of the sample at a second temperature. The sample can include a first liquid, a second liquid, and a plurality of soluble particles. The first phase can include the first liquid and a portion of the soluble particles that is more soluble in the first liquid than second liquid. The second phase can include the second liquid and a portion of the soluble particles that more soluble in the second liquid than first liquid. The thermoelectric cooling element can be in thermal communication with the microfluidic pathway and can transition the sample from the first temperature to the second temperature.

An organic compound refinement method for refining a specific organic compound which is a target compound from at least two types of organic compounds. The method includes separating the target compound from an organic compound other than the target compound while the at least two types of organic compounds are irradiated with light at an infrared absorption wavelength of a specific functional group that is not contained in the target compound but is contained in the organic compound other than the target compound, or separating the target compound from an organic compound other than the target compound while the at least two types of organic compounds are irradiated with light at an infrared absorption wavelength of a specific functional group that is contained in the target compound but is not contained in the organic compound other than the target compound.

Systems and methods for the controlled release of a guest composition that is sequestered within a host composition made up of an anisotropic fluid are disclosed. The guest composition is immiscible in the host composition, thus forming an interface between the compositions upon which elastic repulsion forces act to prevent the release of the guest composition from the host composition. The disclosed systems and methods work by changing the elastic repulsion forces and/or introducing one or more counter forces such that the elastic repulsion forces are no longer sufficient to prevent release of the guest composition. Exemplary methods include mechanically changing the host material (e.g., changing its temperature) or inducing a chemical (e.g., electrostatic) attraction sufficient to overcome the elastic repulsion forces. The disclosed systems and methods can be used for a variety of applications requiring on-demand delivery of a chemical composition.

A method and a system for purification of oil, wherein the method comprises the steps of:adding to a contaminated oil provided in a preparation tank a chemical booster for boosting capturing of impurities and/or a separation of phases in the contaminated oil;waiting for allowing different phases to be separated;pumping content out from the preparation tank through a fluid connection; sensing at least one property of the content in the fluid connection;controlling a valve provided in the fluid connection to transfer the content to a next step in the purification process or to another destination in dependence of the sensed at least one property.

An organic compound refinement method for refining a specific organic compound which is a target compound from at least two types of organic compounds. The method includes separating the target compound from an organic compound other than the target compound while the at least two types of organic compounds are irradiated with light at an infrared absorption wavelength of a specific functional group that is not contained in the target compound but is contained in the organic compound other than the target compound, or separating the target compound from an organic compound other than the target compound while the at least two types of organic compounds are irradiated with light at an infrared absorption wavelength of a specific functional group that is contained in the target compound but is not contained in the organic compound other than the target compound.

The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.

An embodiment of the disclosed technology provides a microfluidic cooling device including a microfluidic pathway and a thermoelectric cooling element. The microfluidic pathway can include an inlet to receive a sample at a first temperature and an outlet to output a first phase and second phase of the sample at a second temperature. The sample can include a first liquid, a second liquid, and a plurality of soluble particles. The first phase can include the first liquid and a portion of the soluble particles that is more soluble in the first liquid than second liquid. The second phase can include the second liquid and a portion of the soluble particles that more soluble in the second liquid than first liquid. The thermoelectric cooling element can be in thermal communication with the microfluidic pathway and can transition the sample from the first temperature to the second temperature.

A device and method for removal of contaminants from refrigerant distributes admitted refrigerant to each of a plurality of reactor collectors, heats each collector to vaporize the refrigerant, whereupon the vaporized refrigerant flows through a filter and then through an outlet. The device includes a housing, a fluid distribution manifold with a plurality of lines, each line directing refrigerant to one of a plurality of collectors, each collector being associated with a line to supply refrigerant, a heating element to heat the collectors and a filter disposed between an outlet and the collectors.