Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a process for the desalination of NaCl solutions employing a three-chamber electrochemical cell separated by relative ion exchange membranes, namely a succession of a cathode chamber, a cation exchange membrane, a central chamber for the saline solution, an anion exchange membrane and an anode chamber. The oxidation of OH? and the reduction of H3O+ under the formation of OH? and H2 causes the passage of Na and Cl? ions from the central chamber to the other chambers, thereby reducing the salt concentration. The feeding of the cathode chamber can be managed in a circuit with the insertion of a carbonation reactor to reduce the concentration of NaOH and eliminate CO2 from the air. Under certain conditions, the chlorides entering the anode chamber undergo oxidation and the chlorine formed therein reacts with water to produce HCl and HClO.

Abstract: Air-cooled module for an air-cooled refrigeration cycle apparatus, comprising a desuperheater and condenser heat exchanger configured for being fluidly connected to compressor means of the air-cooled refrigeration cycle apparatus and a subcooler configured for being fluidly connected to expansion means of the air-cooled refrigeration cycle apparatus, both the desuperheater and condenser heat exchanger and the subcooler being configured to allow the passage of a refrigerant fluid inside themselves for cooling the refrigerant fluid thanks to an air flow directed to pass through these latter, the subcooler being fluidically in series downstream and physically separated with respect to the desuperheater and condenser heat exchanger, these latter elements being positioned relatively so the air flow passes before in the subcooler and then in the desuperheater and condenser heat exchanger.

Abstract: A humid compressed-gas dryer includes a plate-type heat-exchanger that includes a plurality of stacked plates (2) associated with each other in a gas-tight manner all along the perimeter of adjacent plates (2). The adjacent plates (2) define channels (3) therebetween for two or more fluids to be guided therethrough in a heat-exchange relation. The plates and have a plurality of apertures (4, 15-21) disposed in a mutually aligned arrangement, which defines fluid conduits that extend through the heat-exchanger in fluid communication with the channels (3). The plates (2) are each formed of an aluminium sheet having a smooth surface, and a corrugated aluminium fin (5) is provided between adjacent sheets defining the channels. The fin (5) has corrugations connected to the smooth surface of the plates by brazing or a similar method. The plurality of stacked plates defines a heat recovery section (12) and a cooling section (13).

Abstract: The speaker recognition techniques of this application use a topological description of his/her voice spectral properties in order to use it as a biometric characterization for the speaker. Distinctly different from computing distances between spectral curves obtained from voices of different speakers in various spectral analysis methods, such topological features provide a one-to-one correspondence between a subject and a mold represented by a set of rational numbers.

Abstract: A humid compressed-gas dryer comprises a plate-type heat-exchanger that includes a plurality of stacked plates (2) associated to each other in a gas-tight manner all along the perimeter of adjacent plates (2), said adjacent plates (2) defining channels (3) therebetween for two or more fluids to be guided therethrough in a heat-exchange relation, said plates (2) having a plurality of apertures (4, 15-21) in a mutually aligned arrangement to define fluid conduits that extend through the heat-exchanger in a fluid communication with said channels (3). Said plates (2) are each formed of an aluminium sheet having a smooth surface and a corrugated aluminium fin (5) is provided between adjacent sheets defining said channels. The fin (5) comprises corrugations associated to the smooth surface of said sheets by brazing.