Abstract: A heat pump system for supplying a heated process fluid to a heated process and a chilled process fluid to a chilled process, including a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a hot heat exchanger to receive the heated process fluid, a cold heat exchanger to receive the chilled process fluid and an expansion device (22), wherein the compressor, hot heat exchanger, cold heat exchanger, and expansion device circulate the refrigerant in a serial loop such that the hot heat exchanger can impart heat energy into the heated process fluid and concurrently the cold heat exchanger can absorb heat energy from the chilled process fluid.

Abstract: A distillation system receives a feed solution to produce residue and distillate. A heat pump includes parts of a first and second heat exchangers, a working fluid, a working fluid compressor, and an expansion device. The working fluid receives available heat energy from the distillate in the second heat exchanger, receives at least some additional heat energy in the working fluid compressor, and releases at least some of that heat energy into the feed solution in the first heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger receives the feed solution, permitting transfer of at least some heat energy into it. A separator receives the feed solution from the first heat exchanger and separates it into the residue and distillate. The second heat exchanger receives the distillate, permitting transfer of at least some heat energy back into the working fluid. And a distillate extractor directs the distillate out of the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: An improved cold trap of the type having a cooling mechanism (e.g., one or more cold fingers and optionally a cooling coil), to accept a gas stream to condense out volatile vapors, and a seal that contains the gas stream within the cold trap. The cold trap accordingly exhibits a flow impedance and a condensation efficiency. The improvement includes a baffle and the seal made rotatable, to rotatably hold the baffle and the cooling mechanism within the cold trap thereby allowing adjustment of the flow impedance and the condensation efficiency of the cold trap.

Abstract: A cycloidal speed reducer including a housing for input and output rotor assemblies. Stationary pin features having a radius are spaced in a housing cavity. The input assembly includes an eccentric hub with an eccentricity equal or greater than the radius, two lobes each rotatably holding a cycloid disk, and an input engagement feature for a drive motor. The cycloid disks each have engagement holes and contact surfaces having truncated-profiles. The output assembly includes a pin disc holding roller pins, and an output engagement feature for a driven device. As rotational motion is input to the cycloidal speed reducer from the drive motor, the input rotor assembly and cycloid disks are rotated, the contact surfaces interact with the stationary pin features, the engagement holes of the cycloid disks interact with the roller pins and the output assembly is rotated, and proportional rotational motion is output to the driven device.

Abstract: A distillation head for distilling a distillate from a vaporous distilland. The distillation head including a headspace chamber within a condenser surface. An inlet port having an extended portion below and to but not into the headspace, to receive the vaporous distilland and pass it into the headspace. A collection surface below the headspace to collect the distillate. And an outlet port, to receive the distillate from the collection surface and pass it out of the distillation head.

Abstract: A distillation system receives a feed solution to produce residue and distillate. A heat pump includes parts of a first and second heat exchangers, a working fluid, a working fluid compressor, and an expansion device. The working fluid receives available heat energy from the distillate in the second heat exchanger, receives at least some additional heat energy in the working fluid compressor, and releases at least some of that heat energy into the feed solution in the first heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger receives the feed solution, permitting transfer of at least some heat energy into it. A separator receives the feed solution from the first heat exchanger and separates it into the residue and distillate. The second heat exchanger receives the distillate, permitting transfer of at least some heat energy back into the working fluid. And a distillate extractor directs the distillate out of the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A distillation head for distilling a distillate from a vaporous distilland. The distillation head including a headspace chamber within a condenser surface. An inlet port having an extended portion below and to but not into the headspace, to receive the vaporous distilland and pass it into the headspace. A collection surface below the headspace to collect the distillate. And an outlet port, to receive the distillate from the collection surface and pass it out of the distillation head.

Abstract: An improved thin film evaporator for evaporating a liquid solution. A housing contains a solution inlet for the solution to enter, a concentrate outlet for a concentrate to exit, and a residue outlet for a residue to exit the evaporator. An evaporation surface evaporates at least part of the solution to form a vapor when heated, and a condensation surface condenses the vapor when cooled. A wiper carrier holds wiper blades with a blade edge that is rotated by a rotator shaft, so the blade edges move across the evaporation surface. A mesh baffle is also part of the wiper carrier and is held between the evaporation and condensation surfaces as the wiper blades move therebetween, to assemble liquid droplets produced in the vapor and centrifuge them back towards the evaporation surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device configured to enable monitoring of the subsea surroundings of a trawl net or other seafood gathering device. The device comprises a cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell comprises a sensor that generates data pertaining to the subsea surroundings of the device. The cylindrical shell also comprises a light source. The light source is a light-emitting device or a reflected beam of light. The sensor and the light source are rotatable around an axis extending to the ends of the cylindrical shell. The device further comprises one or more electrical components coupled to the sensor and the light source, and additionally communicatively coupled to a data processing device. At least a part of the cylindrical shell is transparent.