Abstract: A MEMS sensor system for monitoring membrane elements in a membrane based water filtration plant having a remote telemetry unit (RTU), a SCADA, and a plurality of MEMS sensors for measuring pressure, flow rate. and conductivity. The water filtration plant has a train with a membrane vessel containing a plurality of membrane elements arranged in series creating interfaces between each membrane element. The MEMS sensors are located at the membrane element interfaces. A method of monitoring membrane elements in a membrane based water filtration plant using a plurality of MEMS sensors for measuring pressure, flow rate. and conductivity placed at the filtration plant membrane element interfaces.

Abstract: A MEMS sensor system for monitoring membrane elements in a membrane based water filtration plant having a remote telemetry unit (RTU), a SCADA, and a plurality of MEMS sensors for measuring pressure, flow rate. and conductivity. The water filtration plant has a train with a membrane vessel containing a plurality of membrane elements arranged in series creating interfaces between each membrane element. The MEMS sensors are located at the membrane element interfaces. A method of monitoring membrane elements in a membrane based water filtration plant using a plurality of MEMS sensors for measuring pressure, flow rate. and conductivity placed at the filtration plant membrane element interfaces.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a hybrid solar concentration device comprising: (a) a solar collector configured to direct solar radiation to a photovoltaic cell and a heat exchanger; (b) a heat exchanger configured to heat a working fluid with a first energy component of the solar radiation; and (c) a photovoltaic cell configured to generate electricity from a second energy component of the solar radiation. Also provided are systems for generating electric power comprising one or more of the novel hybrid solar concentration devices and methods for generating electric power using such systems.

Abstract: A hybrid system includes a photovoltaic system configured to receive solar energy and convert the solar energy into electrical energy. A cooling system is coupled to the photovoltaic system and configured to circulate a cooling fluid through the cooling system so as to remove heat from the photovoltaic system to cool the photovoltaic system. A first device is coupled to the cooling system via a temperature booster and configured to receive the heated cooling fluid from the cooling system. The temperature booster is configured to substantially increase the temperature of the heated cooling fluid fed from the cooling system to the first device from a first temperature to a second temperature. The first device includes a waste heat recovery system configured to generate electric power, a vapor absorption machine configured to cool a second device, a hot water supply unit, a water distillation unit, a water desalination unit, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for improving inversion layer mobility and providing low defect density in a semiconductor device based upon a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for the manufacture of a semiconductor device based upon a silicon carbide substrate and comprising an oxide layer comprising incorporating at least one additive into the atomic structure of the oxide layer. Semiconductor devices, such as MOSFETS, based upon a substrate treated according to the present method are expected to have inversion layer mobilities of at least about 60 cm2/Vs.