Abstract: The invention provides a system for the dehumidification of air in a space inside an enclosure, the system including at least one air/brine heat exchanger unit for heating cold fresh air introduced into the heat exchanger from the outside and for dehumidifying the air within the enclosure by vapor condensation; and a brine regenerator in brine communication with the air/brine beat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat pump/engine system having a water/brine flash evaporator in fluid communication with a first air/brine heat exchanger, a brine condenser in fluid communication with a second air/brine heat exchanger, and a vapor compressor/turbine connected on a fluid conduit leading from the flash evaporator to the brine condenser. Heat/pump methods are also provided herein.

Abstract: There is provided a heat pump system including two (4, 6), at least similar units in fluid communication with each other, each unit having a housing (8, 8'), a first air/brine heat exchanger (12, 12'), a second brine/refrigerant heat exchanger (24, 24'), a brine inlet (10, 10') for applying brine onto at least one of the heat exchangers, a brine reservoir (14, 14') and a pump (28) for circulating the brine from the reservoir to the inlet. The first and second heat exchangers are in closed loop fluid communication with each other and have a compressor (44) for circulating a refrigerant therethrough in selected directions.

Abstract: A hygroscopic power plant utilizes low salinity liquid (e.g., sea water having a salinity of about 4%) and a source of high salinity liquid (e.g., brine having a salinity of about 38%) for generating electricity. The plant includes a flash chamber to which liquid is supplied and within which water in the liquid is flashed into steam producing more concentrated liquid. A steam turbine is responsive to the steam for generating electricity and producing heat depleted steam. A condenser is provided to which high salinity liquid and the heat depleted steam are supplied for directly contacting the steam with the high salinity liquid whereby the steam condenses on the liquid producing diluted high salinity liquid. A regenerator is provided for evaporating water from the diluted high salinity liquid to produce the high salinity liquid supplied to the condenser.

Abstract: A rotating liquid ring compressor/turbine (RLRC/T), including a rotor having a core and a plurality of radially extending vanes mounted thereon, a tubular jacket having outer and inner lateral portions, eccentrically, rotationally coupled with the rotor. The jacket defines with the rotor a first zone, wherein edges of the vanes rotate in proximity to a first inner surface portion of the jacket and a second zone, wherein edges of the vanes rotate in spaced-apart relationship along a second inner surface portion of the jacket. There is also provided an inlet port communicating with the second zone and an outlet port communicating with the first zone. The eccentricity ecr of the jacket mounted on the rotor is given by: ecr.apprxeq.(1-c)/3, where c is the ratio between the radius of the core C and the radius R of the jacket c=C/R.

Abstract: The horizontal distance traveled by droplets of starting solution sprayed into a gaseous medium above a catch basin, where the gaseous medium has a horizontal velocity component is controlled by controlling the size of the droplets as a function of the horizontal velocity component.

Abstract: Desalination of sea water is achieved using a solar pond that includes a halocline interposed between a convective upper wind mixed layer exposed to the ambient atmosphere, and a lower heat storage layer of hot, concentrated brine, Hot brine from the heat storage layer is flashed into steam which is condensed into desalted water using an indirect heat exchanger cooled by saline water. The latent heat of condensation of the steam warms the saline water and effects evaporation of water therefrom in the form of vapor. The last mentioned water vapor is condensed into desalted water using a two-stage condenser, the first stage of which is an indirect heat exchanger cooled by saline feed water which is heated as a result producing warmed saline feed water that constitutes the saline water used for condensing the steam produced by flashing the brine from the heat storage layer of the pond.

Abstract: A method for evaporating a starting solution to produce an end solution by spraying the starting solution into a gaseous medium under the conditions that the heat content of the starting solution in contact with the gaseous medium is smaller than the heat content of the gaseous medium; the duration of contact is such that most of the evaporation of solution takes place under conditions of constant enthalpy; and the vapor pressure of the gaseous medium is less than the vapor pressure of the liquid/gas interface of the end solution including the step of spraying the starting solution supplied by delivering devices using a pump through spray heads, each spray head includes a member having a plurality of holes the radii of which are not less than 0.025 mm and the distance between them is at least 0.3 mm for producing a shower of starting solution droplets of substantially constant radius substantially independent of spray head operating pressure. An apparatus for evaporating a starting solution is also provided.

Abstract: Weather in the vicinity of a land mass such as a continental arid zone near, and usually eastward of a body of water is modified by preferably propelling a ship pulling a submerged body having plurality of vertically displaced foils having an angle of attack that effects an upward displacement to the water in response to the surface displacement of the ship. The upward displacement of the water moves cooler sub-surface water toward the surface thereby cooling the surface water and reducing its heat loss in the summer. As a result, the heat capacity of the water is increased and additional heat will be stored in the water as a consequence of the greater absorption of solar radiation thereby increasing winter storms and the amount of rainfall over the land mass during the winter.

Abstract: Power is produced by a power plant using a salt-water solar pond comprising an upper wind-mixed layer, a halocline and a lower convective heat storage layer. The power plant includes a heat engine for utilizing heat present in the heat storage layer of the solar pond and a condenser, which preferably is cooled by liquid droplets. In accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention the power plant is positioned within the solar pond and a flash evaporator is used in the heat engine to produce steam which is supplied to a turbine connected to a generator, the heat depleted steam exiting from the turbine and being cooled by liquid droplets in a direct-contact condenser. The size of the droplets is selected such that the heat extracted in the condenser penetrates the majority of the liquid content of most of the droplets.

Abstract: A method for controlling the condition of air in an enclosure, such as a greenhouse, containing growing plants involves reducing the heat load on the enclosure by reducing the rate of convective heat flow of air across the canopy of the plants. This is achieved by heating and dehumidifying the air in the greenhouse during periods of low light levels such as at night in a manner that minimizes ventilation for controlling humidity. Apparatus is also provided for controlling the condition of air in an enclosure using an air-brine-vapor direct contact heat exchanger. Regeneration of the brine from the heat exchanger can be achieved by heating the brine using heated air from the enclosure or hot flue gases such that latent heat and/or sensible heat contained in the air, gases, and/or vapor exiting the regenerator can be transferred to the sir in the enclosure.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning air in an enclosure includes a direct contact air/brine heat exchanger with which air in the enclosure is exchanged, and a reservoir of brine. A first brine loop is established by which brine from the reservoir is exchanged with the direct contact heat exchanger for condensing water vapor in the enclosure air onto the brine to form dilute brine that flows into the reservoir. The apparatus also includes a brine concentrator for evaporating water from the dilute brine in the first loop to produce concentrated brine that is supplied to the reservoir. The brine concentrator is preferably constructed and arranged such that a thin film of dilute brine in the first loop flows over a heat transfer surface that is heated by flue gases from a burner.

Abstract: The air in a greenhouse is dehumidified using a direct-contact heat exchanger utilizing concentrated brine. The diluted brine produced when water vapor in the greenhouse condenses on the concentrated brine is regenerated in a fuel-fired boiler whose products of combustion, carbon dioxide and water vapor, are passed into the greenhouse. The products of combustion provide the desired level of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse; and the excess water vapor in the products of combustion as well as a significant portion of the water vapor produced by plants, growing in the greenhouse are removed by the hygroscopic concentrated brine.

Abstract: A method is provided for extracting heat from a hot liquid containing scaling material whose solubility is proportional to the temperature of the liquid. The method includes providing a pond containing a liquid, and locating in said pond a vertical tube having an upper end that is substantially closed, and an open lower end immersed in the liquid in the pond and spaced from the bottom thereof for establishing a trapped region above a column of liquid in the the tube. Hot liquid is supplied to the trapped region, and the pond and the tube are constructed and arranged so that the liquid in the pond and the liquid in the column are in substantial hydrostatic equilibrium. As a consequence, the trapped region is maintained at a pressure such that some of the liquid supplied to said trapped region flashes into a vapor thereby concentrating the liquid in the column.

Abstract: A method is provided for extracting heat from a hot liquid containing scaling material whose solubility is proportional to the temperature of the liquid. The method includes providing a pond containing a liquid, and locating in said pond a vertical tube having an upper end that is substantially closed, and an open lower end immersed in the liquid in the pond and spaced from the bottom thereof for establishing a trapped region above a column of liquid in the tube. Hot liquid is supplied to the trapped region, and the pond and the tube are constructed and arranged so that the liquid in the pond and the liquid in the column are in substantial hydrostatic equilibrium. As a consequence, the trapped region is maintained at a pressure such that some of the liquid supplied to said trapped region flashes into a vapor thereby concentrating the liquid in the column.

Abstract: A heat exchanger according to the present invention comprises a housing for containing an upper and a lower layer of fluid, means for preventing intermixing of the two fluids, and heat transfer means for enhancing the transfer of heat between the layers. Specifically, the heat exchanger means is in form of a plurality of elongated cylinders extending into both layers, each of said cylinders containing a convective fluid. Preferably, the convective fluid is a liquid; and the preferred liquid includes water. Where the fluid in each of said upper and lower layers is a gas, the preferred orientation of the cylinders is vertical. The hotter fluid should be beneath the cooler fluid so that heat from the hotter fluid is first transferred to the liquid in the lower ends of each cylinder. The buoyancy of the heated liquid sets up convection currents which carry the heated liquid upwardly in the vertical cylinders where the heat is given up to the cooler fluid.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning air in an enclosure includes a reservoir of brine, a direct contact air-brine-vapor heat exchanger, a brine evaporator, and a brine circulation system for exchanging brine between the reservoir and heat exchanger, and between the reservoir and the evaporation. The apparatus also includes a condenser operatively associated with the evaporator, a primary air circulation system constructed and arranged to exchange air between the heat exchanger and the enclosure for drying the air in the heat exchanger, and a secondary air circulation system constructed and arranged to exchange air between the evaporator and the condenser for evaporating water from the brine in the evaporator. Water vapor produced by the brine evaporator is condensed in the condenser which is constructed and arranged to transfer the heat released by condensation, which is the same as the latent heat of vaporization of water evaporated from the brine by the vaporizer, to the air in the enclosure.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning air in an enclosure includes a direct contact air/brine heat exchanger with which air in the enclosure is exchanged, and a reservoir of brine. A first brine loop is established by which brine from the reservoir is exchanged with the direct contact heat exchanger for condensing water vapor in the enclosure air onto the brine to form dilute brine that flows into the reservoir. The apparatus also includes a brine concentrator for evaporating water from the dilute brine in the first loop to produce concentrated brine that is supplied to the reservoir. The brine concentrator is preferably constructed and arranged such that a thin film of dilute brine in the first loop flows over a heat transfer surface that is heated by flue gases from a burner.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling precipitation in evaporation ponds containing brine is provided wherein brine to be concentrated is introduced into a pond at at least one brine entrance, this brine being mixed in the vicinity of the entrance with bine present in the pond by enhanced brine mixing apparatus such that precipitation of salts occurs and salt deposits form in the vicinity of the entrance. This salt deposits collect in a collection basin at the floor of the pond. Brine present in the pond can be close to saturation or even saturated with respect to at least one of the salts contained therein. Deposits present in the collection basin can be removed to a location external to the pond by removal apparatus preferably including a mechanical scapper and conveying or transporting apparatus. A submerged source of compressed air producing bubbles or a motorized propellor mixer may be used to enhance the mixing of the brines near the brine entrance.

Abstract: A centrifugal heat engine comprises a first member rotatably mounted on a second member. The first member has an annular chamber on its periphery containing a vaporizable working fluid, and a central chamber separated from the annular chamber by a bulkhead. The central chamber contains an operating liquid and an hydraulic turbine mounted on the second member which projects into the central compartment and divides the same into two axially displaced compartments each of which contains operating liquid. The working fluid in the annular chamber is heated and vaporized. A conduit conducts vaporized working fluid in the annular chamber into one of the compartments wherein the vaporized working fluid expands in the operating liquid producing a liquid/gas mixture in the one compartment. Rotation of the first member creates a pressure differential between the two compartments that is related to the rotational speed of the first member and the density distribution of the fluids in the two compartments.