Abstract: A gas/liquid heat and/or mass exchanger including a chamber to hold the liquid, the bottom wall of the chamber defining at least one outlet orifice. A plurality of thin guide filaments descends from the orifice or orifices, and at least one thin, falling film of liquid flows down the filaments. The guide filaments are preferably substantially straight and under longitudinal tension. They may be either vertically oriented or tilted, and each one may be either a monofilament of multiple filament. An array of guide filaments may descend from each outlet orifice, and all such arrays may be parallel. A preferred form of the method of forming each outlet orifice is disclosed. A non-fouling nozzle for controlling the flow of liquid is disclosed as a subcombination.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing polluted clinging water from ice. The dirty ice pieces are introduced at the bottom of a column of water and are rinsed by progressively cleaner water as the ice pieces float to the surface.

Abstract: A structure for joining thermoelectric and heat exchange elements in series so that the combination can be operated as a heat pump, at an elevated voltage with high efficiency when transporting high heat flux levels across very small temperature differences.

Abstract: An apparatus for growing free-floating, buoyant crystals to a predetermined size. Crystals having a positive buoyancy such as water crystals (ice) grow due to immersion in a stream of supercooled feed water that flows downward in a tapered incubation duct with a velocity that decreases as the cross-sectional area of the duct increases with increased depth. As the crystals grow, their terminal buoyant velocity increases until it exceeds the peak stream velocity. At this time the crystals float upward and out of the apparatus. A plurality of interconnected incubation ducts may be stacked vertically one above the other. The apparatus may be combined with apparatus to grow free-floating crystals having a negative buoyancy from a supersaturated salt solution that is discharged from the bottom of the apparatus for growing crystals having a positive buoyancy.