Abstract: Geothermal brine always contains some carbon dioxide in solution. Separating steam from geothermal brine removes the carbon dioxide, sharply increasing the pH of the brine and causing precipitation of pH sensitive minerals, including calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate and other metal silicates, clays, and metal sulfides. The binary heat exchanger in a steam-binary hybrid geothermal power plant is especially sensitive to scale deposition from flashed geothermal brine, and application of expensive scale inhibitors is required. Deposition of scale in the binary heat exchanger can be controlled by separating a small amount of gas-rich vapor from the brine before the main stage of steam separation, and combining this gas rich vapor with the flashed brine before in enters the binary heat exchanger. The carbon dioxide thus added to the brine will decrease pH, decreasing or completely blocking precipitation and deposition of pH sensitive minerals as scale.

Abstract: Golfers need and desire to practice and perfect their golf swings, and proper alignment of the golfer's body and the arc that the head of club travels are critical in this regard. The golf swing alignment training device provided allows golfers of different height and body proportions, and using a variety of different golf clubs to practice and perfect their swing. The device comprises a stance rule changeably marked to indicate proper location of the golfer's feet as required using different clubs, a connecting shaft perpendicular to the stance rule that can be moved as needed for clubs of different length, a swing guide governing the direction of the golfer's swing and the shape of its arc, a club face orientation indicator that can be adjusted to indicate proper club face orientation for different shots, and a ball position indicator which properly locates the ball in relation to the device and the golfer's body.

Abstract: An electrode having a valve metal substrate and an electrocatalytic surface composition comprising titanium dioxide doped with bismuth is provided, and an electrolytic water purification process utilizing this electrode, wherein organic substances dissolved or dispersed in water are oxidized and degraded in a nonselective manner with good current efficiency.

Abstract: The wet steam exiting a low pressure steam turbine does not rapidly attain thermodynamic equilibrium because insufficient condensation nuclei are present in the phase transition zone inside the turbine. Therefore, the steam is subcooled, decreasing the power generated by the turbine, and the liquid water carried by the steam consists of relatively coarse droplets which strike the surface of the turbine blades causing erosion. Corona electrodes installed inside the turbine before the saturation line create electrically charged particles which serve as condensation nuclei, decreasing subcooling, and producing a large number of fine droplets. Thereby, thermodynamic equilibrium is more closely approached, more power is generated, and smaller water droplets cause less erosion inside the turbine.

Abstract: A large surface area electrode well-suited to electrochemical applications is produced by winding many turns of a metallic fiber tow on to a sheet metal rectangle. In the preferred embodiment, an anode that can be used to purify water by electrochemical production of hydroxyl free radical is made by winding titanium fiber tow on to a rectangular substrate made of titanium sheet, and applying a suitable multilayered electrocatalytic coating. Made of other metals, an electrode of this description can also serve as the cathode of an electrochemical cell, or as a battery plaque.