Abstract: Apparatus for use in distilling water, comprising a heating arrangement (20) for heating incoming water and thereby producing steam, a condensing arrangement (26) in a flow path of the steam from the heating arrangement (20) for producing condensed water from the steam, the arrangement being such that thermal energy from the condensing steam can be employed to heat the incoming water in the heating arrangement (20). The apparatus further comprises a pre-heating arrangement (16) upstream of the heating arrangement (20) in the flow path of the incoming water and in the flow path of the condensed water from the condensing arrangement (26) for transferring thermal energy from the condensed water to the incoming water.

Abstract: In a fuel vapour recovery system, fuel vapour is drawn off and converted to liquid fuel. The system comprises a compressor, individually closable inlets for the fuel vapour and leading to an inlet duct of the compressor, a return duct by way of which an outlet of the compressor communicates with the inlet duct, and a control device which controls communication between that outlet and the inlet duct via the return duct in dependence upon the number of the inlets which is open.

Abstract: An energy transferring system comprises a sealed circuit (20) for a transfer medium and containing a condenser/absorber (22), a liquid pump (24), an evaporator (26), a superheater (28), and an energy-consuming device (30). The circuit has a low pressure side (32) and a high pressure side (34), with the medium being converted from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase in the side (34) and back in the side (32). The condenser/absorber (22) includes an absorbent of solid material, for example coal powder or nanotubes, and may be combined with the evaporator (26) to form a modular unit.

Abstract: In a fuel vapour recovery system, fuel vapour is drawn off and converted to liquid fuel. The system comprises a compressor (34), individually closable inlets (30, 30a, 30b . . . ) for the fuel vapour and leading to an inlet duct (12) of the compressor (34), a return duct by way of which an outlet of the compressor (34) communicates with the inlet duct (12), and a control device (66) which controls communication between that outlet and the inlet duct (12) via the return duct in dependence upon the number of the inlets (30, 30a, 30b . . . ) which is open.