Abstract: A power plant and method for the generation of power from flowing air utilizes a generally vertically extending duct having an inlet open to atmosphere at an elevation above an outlet. A spray system is mounted adjacent the inlet for spraying droplets of a predetermined amount of water into the air causing the air and droplet mixture to become cooler and denser than the outside air to create a down draft of fluid within the duct. A power system mounted adjacent the outlet recovers energy from the downdraft of fluid passing through it. The predetermined amount of water sprayed is greater than the amount of water that would theoretically and potentially evaporate in the air throughout the entire elevation over an unlimited time period using fresh water droplets. The power plant can also be synergistically combined with desalination systems and aquaculture.

Abstract: A power plant and method for the generation of power from flowing air utilizes a generally vertically extending duct having an inlet open to atmosphere at an elevation above an outlet. A spray system is mounted adjacent the inlet for spraying droplets of a predetermined amount of water into the air causing the air and droplet mixture to become cooler and denser than the outside air to create a down draft of fluid within the duct. A power system mounted adjacent the outlet recovers energy from the downdraft of fluid passing through it. The predetermined amount of water sprayed is greater than the amount of water that would theoretically and potentially evaporate in the air throughout the entire elevation over an unlimited time period using fresh water droplets. The power plant can also be synergistically combined with desalination systems and aquaculture.

Abstract: A power plant and method for the generation of power from flowing air utilizes a generally vertically extending duct having an inlet open to atmosphere at an elevation above an outlet. A spray system is mounted adjacent the inlet for spraying droplets of a predetermined amount of water into the air causing the air and droplet mixture to become cooler and denser than the outside air to create a down draft of fluid within the duct. A power system mounted adjacent the outlet recovers energy from the downdraft of fluid passing through it. The predetermined amount of water sprayed is greater than the amount of water that would theoretically and potentially evaporate in the air throughout the entire elevation over an unlimited time period using fresh water droplets. The power plant can also be synergistically combined with desalination systems and aquaculture.

Abstract: Waste salts and brines are disposed of by constructing salt water solar pond power plants, concentrating the waste salts and brines, and then introducing them into the heat storage layers of the solar ponds of the power plants. The basins in which such solar ponds are constructed are made deeper than needed to sustain operation of the power plant at its designed output; and after a deep basin is filled, the concentrated brine from the heat storage layer is available to construct another solar pond which is then available for storing additional waste salts. In concentrating the waste salts, sodium chloride will precipitate; and this material can be deposited at the bottom of the solar ponds to seal the same against leakage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving a soil structure by stabilization of aggregates. According to the invention it is applied to the soil a graft polymer substantially free of monomer, having an intrinsic viscosity below 1dg/l and a molecular weight below 100,000. The graft polymer is obtained by the exothermic reaction of a water soluble lignosulfonate with a member selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof. The graft polymers have been found to be also useful as binding reagents for agglomerating single particles of particulate materials.The graft polymers according to the invention are obtained in the form of an aqueous solution, which may be transformed into a powder by spray drying. As soil conditioners they may be applied by spraying, alone or admixed with fertilizers or pesticides and also combined with the operation of planting and soil stabilization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving a soil structure by stabilization of aggregates. According to the invention it is applied to the soil a graft polymer substantially free of monomer, having an intrinsic viscosity below 1 dg/l and a molecular weight below 100,000. The graft polymer is obtained by the exothermic reaction of a water soluble lignosulfonate with a member selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof. The graft polymers have been found to be also useful as binding reagents for agglomerating single particles of particulate materials.The graft polymers according to the invention are obtained in the form of an aqueous solution, which may be transformed into a powder by spray drying. As soil conditioners they may be applied by spraying, alone or admixed with fertilizers or pesticides and also combined with the operation of planting and soil stabilization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving a soil structure by stabilization of aggregates and to the reagents used therefor. The reagents used are graft polymers obtained from crude lignosulfonate and monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl cyanide (acrylonitrile), vinyl acetate, hydrolized vinyl acetate and acrylamide or combinations thereof, at a pH range of between 2 and 6 in the presence of an initiator.The reagents obtained according to the invention are true solutions and are characterized by their low viscosity. They can be used in solution, emulsion or suspension either by spraying alone or admixed with fertilizers, pesticides or combined with the operation of planting and soil stabilization.The reagents can be easily manufactured, being stable for prolonged periods of time. They possess outstanding properties as soil conditioners.

Abstract: Seepage of water through soil is considerably reduced by providing plural layers of adjacent, thin impermeable strips wherein the strips of an overlayer are staggered by a half strip's width with regard to the strips of the underlayer, and the widths of the strips are substantially greater than the gaps between adjacent strips and the space between layers.

Abstract: A method for laying subsoil membranes includes dragging a hollow cutting blade through the soil at a predetermined depth, providing a supply of sheeting to the interior of the blade and feeding the sheeting from the interior of the blade through an opening therein. The hollow blade has a cutting edge, a rear edge and an upper section having an upwardly sloping front portion and a downwardly sloping rear portion connected by a center portion. The bottom portion of the blade slopes in an upward direction from its front to form a release angle. The sheet material is fed out of an opening in the rear of the blade.