Abstract: An evaporative process employing an undulating flexible membrane (4) as an evaporative surface onto which a vaporizing gas (2) such as, but not limited to, air, contacts a liquid solution (1, 5) such as, but not limited to, water, and evaporation occurs. The membrane (4) is supported (3) with sufficient laxity to permit wavelike undulating motion of the membrane brought about primarily by the evaporative airflow (2) itself. The differential flexing and motion of the undulating membrane (4) results in a breaking and peeling away of any normally fouling scaling or plugging solids which have precipitated or accumulated on the membrane surface (4). The undulation of the flexible membrane (4) thereby providing a self cleaning action. The self cleaning action of the membrane (4) assures successful application to evaporative processes with solutions (1, 5) which are prone to scaling, fouling, plugging or solutes buildup.

Abstract: A heat transfer process for a liquid (5) using counterflow, direct contact with another, immiscible fluid (1), of differing temperature and density, in the presence of a free floating media bed (7). Heat transfer within the liquid (5) occurring as a consequence of direct contact with the immiscible fluid (1) of differing temperature. The counterflow motion a consequence of buoyancy forces resulting from the different densities of the liquid (5) and immiscible fluid (1). The media bed (7) being of a nature preferentially wetted by the immiscible fluid (1), thereby providing a large film type surface area of the immiscible fluid (1) for direct contact heat transfer with the liquid (5). The free floating nature of the media bed (7) resulting from the materials comprising the media being of a density intermediate between that of the liquid (5) and that of the immiscible fluid (1).

Abstract: A low temperature process for the dehydration of aqueous glycol solutions using an induced airflow (3) and low temperature thermal sources (4, 21) to reduce the water concentration in aqueous glycol solutions (22). The invention utilizes the ability for air to evaporate water at low vapor pressures and corresponding low vapor temperatures in a direct contacting device (5). The relative vapor pressures of glycol to water at low temperatures assures the preferential vaporization rate of water over that of glycol thereby providing dehydration and effective regeneration of aqueous glycol solutions.