Abstract: This device is a water adiabatic evaporative cooler of two separated air flows contained in a cylindrical body, there is the humid peripheral flow which comprises the components of the water evaporation system, the other is the central flow designated as the ambient dry flow where the air current produces the cooling effect. The two air flows are generated by a single axial air blower, the central zone of the air blower drives the atmospheric air through a central concentric body containing an air to water heat exchanger, this is the air to be directed to the controlled ambient, while the peripheral part of the single axial blower drives the air through an external annular adiabatic evaporation chamber, from here the cool condensed moisture goes to the heat exchanger while residual humid air is evacuated to the external atmosphere.

Abstract: This novel device is an enhanced evaporative cooler, which can be transformed into a heater. It is embodied in a single unit with two operational modes. In the A or cooling mode it is comprised of two cooling stages, the first stage consists of an air blower and a plurality of evaporation channels, and a cold water collection tray placed under the said channels, the evaporation channels have nozzles injecting high pressure water, producing a very fine spray, part of the spray evaporates, the rest is cooled and collected in the cool water tray, this cool water is pump circulated through the second stage. The second stage consists of an air to water heat exchanger, an air blower and a warm water collection tray where the output from the heat exchanger is collected, the water in the warm water tray is pumped back to the nozzles starting a new cycle. In the B or heater mode a heater element located in the second stage warm water tray is activated, the so heated water circulates only within the second stage.

Abstract: A partially segmented deformable mirror is formed with a mirror plate having a smooth and continuous front surface and a plurality of actuators to its back surface. The back surface is divided into triangular areas which are mutually separated by grooves. The grooves are deep enough to make the plate deformable and the actuators for displacing the mirror plate in the direction normal to its surface are inserted in the grooves at the vertices of the triangular areas. Each actuator includes a transducer supported by a receptacle with outer shells having outer surfaces. The vertices have inner walls which are approximately perpendicular to the mirror surface and make planar contacts with the outer surfaces of the outer shells. The adhesive which is used on these contact surfaces tends to contract when it dries but the outer shells can bend and serve to minimize the tendency of the mirror to warp.

Abstract: A cascade solar fluid heater, with optional cross flow, provides direct solar heating of fluids using total internal reflection at the fluid free surface to trap radiation and enhance absorption. A highly absorbing material is formed into a continuous cascade or waterfall arrangement of collecting channels down which the fluid flows. Absorption of incident radiant enery is improved by designing the channels so that reflected radiation is totally internally reflected at the free surface of the fluid so that the radiation impinges again on the absorbing surface. The angle of the collection surface is determined as a function of the angle of incidence, and optimum performance is provided for any angle of incidence less than the selected design value. The system can be designed optionally for any geographical latitude.