Abstract: A steam generator system configured to burn hydrogen and oxygen at stoichiometry along with a increased-pressure water and steam. Said steam generator system comprise a hydrogen source, an oxygen source, a nitrogen source, a water source, a steam source, a hydrogen-oxygen handling unit, a cooling unit, a one or more H2-O2 steam generators and a control unit. Said steam generator system is configured to provide said hydrogen source to said hydrogen-oxygen handling unit through an oxygen passage, said oxygen source to said hydrogen-oxygen handling unit through a hydrogen passage, and said nitrogen source to selectively purge said oxygen passage and said hydrogen passage. Said water source provide water to said cooling unit. Said cooling unit is configured to receive said water source and said steam source.

Abstract: The invention provides several innovations relative to MVC thermal distillation methods and facilities in order to decrease their specific electricity consumption to values of only 2 to 4 kWh/m3 of distillate produced, as well as their manufacturing costs. The vapour transport system is reduced to its simplest expression and has a practically null total dynamic pressure loss. The compression system including the compressor motor) is completely integrated into the evaporator-condenser, installed in the inlet of the condensation zones, preferably provided with a system preventing overheating of the vapour, and driven at a high speed of rotation. Preferably, the auxiliary equipment is installed in the enclosure in a partial vacuum (hermetic chamber). According to one particular embodiment, the condensation zones have a section that decreases with the path of the vapour. The exchangers on the incoming and outgoing flows are supplied with continuously balanced heat loads.

Abstract: The invention provides several innovations relative to MVC thermal distillation methods and facilities in order to decrease their specific electricity consumption to values of only 2 to 4 kWh/m3 of distillate produced, as well as their manufacturing costs. The vapour transport system is reduced to its simplest expression and has a practically null total dynamic pressure loss. The compression system including the compressor motor) is completely integrated into the evaporator-condenser, installed in the inlet of the condensation zones, preferably provided with a system preventing overheating of the vapour, and driven at a high speed of rotation. Preferably, the auxiliary equipment is installed in the enclosure in a partial vacuum (hermetic chamber). According to one particular embodiment, the condensation zones have a section that decreases with the path of the vapour. The exchangers on the incoming and outgoing flows are supplied with continuously balanced heat loads.

Abstract: A beverage vending system includes a vending machine with a housing having a plurality of racks therein, each rack storing vending items. One of the vending items is a kit cup. Each kit cup includes a cup, a lid and a beverage pod. The racks are directly inaccessible by a user of the vending machine, and the housing includes an access area, accessible to a user for retrieving a dispensed kit cup. A control panel includes a user interface for selecting a vending item and a currency exchange system for receiving currency from a user. A dispensing mechanism is operatively connected between the control panel and the plurality of racks. In response to the user selecting a vending item and paying of the associated purchase value, the dispensing mechanism actuates a rack storing the selected vending item, to, in turn, dispense one such selected item to the access area.

Abstract: An electronic message unit adapted for use with an existing telephone and a public communication link for receiving incoming messages (machine interpretable messages and voice messages) over the communication link and for receiving incoming call signals indicating an incoming message being receivble over the communication link including a telephone control assembly and a message controller. The telephone control assembly is connectable to the communication link and to the existing telephone for receiving call incoming signals and for connecting to the communication link in response to receiving a call incoming signal, the telephone control assembly receiving the incoming messages over the communication link when connected to the communication link and outputting the received incoming messages. The message controller receives the incoming messages outputted by the telephone control assembly and determines the incoming message to be either a machine interpretable message or a voice message.