Abstract: The invention is a heat exchanger that transfers heat directly between fluids which are in direct contact with each other rather than being separated by a heat conductive wall. Gas and liquid exchange heat when the gas is moved into and through a mixing chamber, and is directed to form a high speed, forced vortex gas flow. The liquid is sprayed into the mixing chamber to form droplets traveling with and mixing with the vortex gas flow. As the gas and liquid droplets move through the mixing chamber together in the vortex flow, they exchange thermal energy by direct contact. The mixing chamber length is designed so that the gas and the liquid droplets approach thermal equilibrium as the gas-liquid mixture moves into a separation chamber. Within the separation chamber, the centrifugal force of the continuing vortex movement of the gas stream separates the liquid from the gas stream and forms a layer of liquid on the separation chamber wall.

Abstract: The invention is a polarized sunglass lens that comprises a multiband contrast enhancer to provide relatively high light transmittance for portions of the red, green, and blue spectra, while blocking UV and visible violet wavelengths, and optionally blocking deep-red wavelengths, in a single lens layer which when positioned as the front lens layer also protects the internal lens layers from UV-induced degradation. The multiband contrast enhancer comprises a combination of a copper halide or copper indium compound with rare-earth oxides in a heat-treated glass composition, or a combination of narrowband and sharp-cut absorbing dyes in a plastic composition, and provides attenuation of the UV and violet spectrum, thus protecting the user's eyes and the internal layers and colorants from UV-induced damage while providing enhanced optical contrast, color saturation, and visual acuity for the wearer.

Abstract: The invention is a heat exchanger transferring heat from a small heat source to a moving fluid. The inherent limitation of such a system is that most of the heat transfer to the fluid occurs only in the immediate vicinity of the heat input even though a large surface area heat transfer structure such as fins or small fluid passages is used to enhance the heat transfer within the heat exchanger. The invention adds a heat pipe inside the heat exchanger enclosure and in contact with the heat transfer structure. The heat pipe spreads the incoming heat over a larger part of the surface area of the heat transfer structure and improves the heat transfer to the cooling fluid by furnishing multiple heat transfer locations without adding extra thermal resistance between the heat source and the fluid flow.

Abstract: The invention is a particle and sediment filter for stormwater. A long permeable filter bag is laid out horizontally within an enclosure. The bag is formed of at least two layers of parallel tubes that give each layer the pleated look of a typical air mattress. Stormwater is collected from the filter bag by perforated pipes held within the creases between the tubes of the layers of the bag, with the pipes draining to the outside of the enclosure. The bag is also supported above the bottom of the enclosure by additional perforated pipes located within the creases between the tubes, thus allowing the filtered liquid to also drain off beneath the bag. The stormwater input is from a pipe that feeds a manifold formed in the bag and connected to each tube. The top of the enclosure is removable for replacing the filter. The filter bags are constructed of flexible material so that they are flat during initial transport and installation, but they expand as they are filled with liquid and solid material.