Abstract: The present application pertains to systems and methods for desalination. In one embodiment the system employs a first storage reservoir configured to be near the surface of a body of water and configured to store a low density fluid. A second storage reservoir is configured to be located below the surface of the body of water. A desalination system is operably connected to the second reservoir. Desalinated water is produced by allowing desalination permeate to displace low density fluid in the second reservoir and transfer the low density fluid from the second reservoir to the first reservoir. Desalinated water is exported by transferring low density fluid from the first reservoir into the second reservoir to displace desalinated water from the second reservoir into a water export pipeline.

Abstract: The present application pertains to processes producing oxides using a weak acid intermediate. In one embodiment a material comprising calcium carbonate is reacted with a solution comprising aqueous carboxylic acid to form a gas comprising carbon dioxide and a solution comprising aqueous calcium carboxylate. The solution comprising aqueous calcium carboxylate is reacted with sodium sulfate to form a solution comprising aqueous sodium carboxylate and a solid comprising calcium sulfate. The solution comprising aqueous sodium carboxylate is reacted with sulfur dioxide to form sodium sulfite and an aqueous carboxylic acid. The sodium sulfite is separated from said aqueous carboxylic acid and reacted to form a solid comprising calcium sulfite which is decomposed to form calcium oxide and sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: The present application pertains to processes and systems for enhanced heat transfer. In some embodiments a process is described for removing a portion of a chemical from a heat transfer loop comprising a heat transfer fluid. The process may comprise adding a solvent to the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer loop; removing at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid from the heat transfer loop; separating said removed heat transfer fluid into a permeate and a retentate using a membrane; and adding at least a portion of the permeate to the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer loop.

Abstract: The present application pertains to processes producing oxides using a weak acid intermediate. In one embodiment a material comprising calcium carbonate is reacted with a solution comprising aqueous carboxylic acid to form a gas comprising carbon dioxide and a solution comprising aqueous calcium carboxylate. The solution comprising aqueous calcium carboxylate is reacted with sodium sulfate to form a solution comprising aqueous sodium carboxylate and a solid comprising calcium sulfate. The solution comprising aqueous sodium carboxylate is reacted with sulfur dioxide to form sodium sulfite and an aqueous carboxylic acid. The sodium sulfite is separated from said aqueous carboxylic acid and reacted to form a solid comprising calcium sulfite which is decomposed to form calcium oxide and sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: The present application pertains in some embodiments to a thermal storage system. The system may include, for example, a warm thermal storage region; a cold thermal storage region; and a physical divider. The warm thermal storage region may include at least two liquid phases. The cold thermal storage region may include at least one liquid phase. The physical divider substantially separates the warm thermal storage region from the cold thermal storage region.

Abstract: The present application pertains to processes and systems for enhanced heat transfer. In some embodiments a process is described for removing a portion of a chemical from a heat transfer loop comprising a heat transfer fluid. The process may comprise adding a solvent to the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer loop; removing at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid from the heat transfer loop; separating said removed heat transfer fluid into a permeate and a retentate using a membrane; and adding at least a portion of the permeate to the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer loop.

Abstract: A system for generating power is disclosed. The system comprises a first storage reservoir for a first liquid fluid and a second storage reservoir for a second higher density fluid located at a lower elevation. Power is generated using a pump, a generator, and fluid displacement.

Abstract: A system for generating power is disclosed. The system comprises a first storage reservoir for a first liquid fluid and a second storage reservoir for a second higher density fluid located at a lower elevation. Power is generated using a pump, a generator, and fluid displacement.

Abstract: A system for storing and generating power is disclosed. The system comprises a first storage reservoir configured to store a first fluid, a second storage reservoir located at a lower elevation than the first storage reservoir and configured to store a second fluid wherein said second fluid has a higher density than the first fluid, and a pump. In some embodiments a generator may be employed. The pump and the first and the second reservoir are operatively connected such that power is stored by displacing the second fluid in the second storage reservoir by pumping the first fluid from the first storage reservoir to the second storage reservoir and such that power is generated by allowing the pumped first fluid in the second storage reservoir to exit the second reservoir. The first fluid is generally a liquid.

Abstract: The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid and/or capturing carbon dioxide. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth sulfite or bisulfite and an aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.

Abstract: A system generating power is disclosed. The system generates power from brine discharged into a body of water, such as a sea or ocean. The system comprises a brine source and a pipe. The brine source located at a first elevation transfers brine into the pipe. Brine travels through the pipe and is discharged into the body of water through a discharge outlet located at a second elevation. The first elevation is a higher elevation than the second elevation. Power is generated due the gravitational hydrostatic pressure difference between the brine and the water at the discharge outlet due to the density difference between brine and water, and the elevation difference between the first elevation and the second elevation. In some embodiments, power may be extracted by a turbine, or pressure exchanger, or generator. In some embodiments, the brine source may comprise brine produced by a desalination system.

Abstract: The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid and/or capturing carbon dioxide. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth sulfite or bisulfate and an aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.

Abstract: The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth-bisulfite and aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.

Abstract: A system for storing and generating power is disclosed. The system comprises a first storage reservoir configured to store a first fluid, a second storage reservoir located at a lower elevation than the first storage reservoir and configured to store a second fluid wherein said second fluid has a higher density than the first fluid, and a pump. The pump and the first and the second reservoir are operatively connected such that power is stored by displacing the second fluid in the second storage reservoir by pumping the first fluid from the first storage reservoir to the second storage reservoir and such that power is generated by allowing the pumped first fluid in the second storage reservoir to exit the second reservoir. The first fluid is generally a liquid. In some embodiments, a power recovery device may be employed. In some embodiments, the hydraulic pressure of the low density fluid may be employed to pressurized desalination feed and facilitate desalination.

Abstract: A system for generating power is disclosed. The system comprises a first storage reservoir for a first liquid fluid and a second storage reservoir for a second higher density fluid located at a lower elevation. Power is generated using a pump, a generator, and fluid displacement.

Abstract: A system for desalinating water is disclosed. The system comprises a subsea reverse osmosis unit located beneath the surface of a body of water, a first liquid column comprising seawater, a second liquid column comprising desalinated water with a salinity less than seawater, and a brine discharge outlet. Due to the difference in density between the seawater and the desalinated water, the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the first liquid column may be greater than the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the second liquid column. At least a portion of the pressure difference for reverse osmosis desalination may be provided by the difference in gravitational hydrostatic pressure between the first liquid column and the second liquid column. A significant reduction in desalination energy consumption may be enabled by discharging the brine at an elevation lower than the maximum elevation of the first liquid column or the second liquid column.

Abstract: A system for storing and generating power is disclosed. The system comprises a first storage reservoir configured to store a first fluid, a second storage reservoir located at a lower elevation than the first storage reservoir and configured to store a second fluid wherein said second fluid has a higher density than the first fluid, and a pump. In some embodiments a generator may be employed. The pump and the first and the second reservoir are operatively connected such that power is stored by displacing the second fluid in the second storage reservoir by pumping the first fluid from the first storage reservoir to the second storage reservoir and such that power is generated by allowing the pumped first fluid in the second storage reservoir to exit the second reservoir. The first fluid is generally a liquid.

Abstract: The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation—carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation—carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth—bisulfite and aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.

Abstract: The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation-carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth-bisulfite and aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.

Abstract: The present application pertains to methods for making metal oxides and/or citric acid. In one embodiment, the application pertains to a process for producing calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, or both from a material comprising calcium and magnesium. The process may include reacting a material comprising calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Separating, concentrating, and calcining may lead to the production of oxides such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In other embodiments the application pertains to methods for producing an alkaline-earth oxide and a carboxylic acid from an alkaline earth cation—carboxylic acid anion salt. Such processes may include, for example, reacting an alkaline-earth cation—carboxylic acid anion salt with aqueous sulfur dioxide to produce aqueous alkaline-earth—bisulfite and aqueous carboxylic acid solution. Other useful steps may include desorbing, separating, and/or calcining.