Abstract: An ampoule contains an ingot of non-monocrystalline material. A seed of the same material but monocrystalline in nature is embedded within the ingot. A spring biases a piston to retain the seed and ingot together, even in an environment with vibrational forces. When the ingot is melted, the piston contains all of the melted material within a volume free of empty space. Upon cooling the ingot solidifies to a monocrystalline mass.

Abstract: A furnace for growing a semiconductor crystal includes an elongated tubular chamber encased within a cylindrical jacket. The furnace is divided into a plurality of zones with each zone having a corresponding insulation block for preventing heat loss from the chamber and to absorb external vibrations. The chamber is heated by sets of heater elements fixed thereto. Each set of heater elements is controlled by a corresponding processing means which supplies needed power thereto for generating the desired temperature in that zone. To draw heat from a particular area, an annular shunt disc may be interposed concentrically between the chamber and the jacket for providing a radial path for heat to flow from the chamber to the environment through the jacket. Because of its sound construction and the requirement of only minimal power, this furnace is particularly well adapted to operate on Earth, and in a micro-gravity environment and withstand launches to and from space.

Abstract: In a thermally driven multi-effect distillation process and apparatus liquid is introduced into a plurality of evaporating and condensing stages or chambers while heat energy is passed through the stages or chambers in a direction countercurrent to the direction of flow of the liquid which undergoes evaporation to form condensate and distilland in each stage or chamber while transferring the heat of condensation to the next downstream stage or chamber and maintaining a minimum temperature differential between stages or chambers, and separately removing condensate and distilland from each stage or chamber while rotating the stages or chambers about an axis passing through the points of introduction thereto of the liquid and heat energy. The apparatus includes a plurality of adjacent evaporation and condensation chambers and devices for introducing liquid and heat energy thereto in countercurrent directions. The walls of the chambers, formed of spaced heat conductive sheets, act to transfer heat.

Abstract: A thermally driven multi-effect distillation process and apparatus are disclosed in which liquid is introduced into a plurality of evaporating and condensing stages or chambers while heat energy is passed through the stages or chambers in a direction countercurrent to the direction of flow of the liquid which undergoes evaporation to form condensate and distilland in each stage or chamber while transferring the heat of condensation to the next downstream stage or chamber and maintaining a minimum temperature differential between stages or chambers, and separately removing condensate and distilland from each stage or chamber while rotating the stages or chambers about an axis passing through the points of introduction thereto of the liquid and heat energy.Generally the apparatus comprises a plurality of adjacent evaporation and condensation chambers and means for introducing liquid and heat energy thereto in countercurrent directions.

Abstract: A solar energy collector for collecting, concentrating, and utilizing solar energy, including a target for transferring solar energy into another useable energy form and reflector positioned to increase the amount of solar energy reaching the target and prevent solar energy from escaping around the target, the target including in its preferred form a transparent envelope and a heat pipe containing a heat transfer fluid, the heat pipe having an evaporator portion disposed within the transparent envelope and an emergent condenser portion with a flange forming a dry thermal interface with a manifold for conducting heat energy directly from the heat pipe to the manifold.

Abstract: A solar energy collector for collecting, concentrating, and utilizing solar energy, including a target for transferring solar energy into another useable energy form and a reflector positioned to increase the amount of solar energy reaching the target and prevent solar energy from escaping around the target, the target including in its preferred form a transparent envelope and a heat pipe containing a heat transfer fluid, the heat pipe having an evaporator portion disposed within the transparent envelope and an emergent condenser portion with a flange forming a dry thermal interface with a manifold for conducting heat energy directly from the heat pipe to the manifold.