Abstract: Nozzles having variable geometry are disclosed that are comprised of a plurality of vanes that contact one another and can slide with respect to one another. A control element forces the vanes to slide, with contacting sides of the vanes defining an inner flow path through which a fluid may pass. The vanes may be self-similar or different from one another to define the desired geometries of the opening in the nozzles. The vanes may be configured to provide convergent, divergent and convergent-divergent nozzles for a range of applications.

Abstract: A separator assembly is provided comprising a membrane stack assembly comprising a feed carrier layer, a permeate carrier layer, and a membrane layer, and a central core element comprising a concentrate exhaust conduit and a permeate exhaust conduit; wherein the concentrate exhaust conduit and the permeate exhaust conduit are separated by a first portion of the membrane stack assembly; and wherein a second portion of the membrane stack assembly forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element; and wherein the feed carrier layer is in contact with the concentrate exhaust conduit and not in contact with the permeate exhaust conduit; and wherein the permeate carrier layer is in contact with the permeate exhaust conduit and not in contact with the concentrate exhaust conduit; and wherein the permeate carrier layer does not form an outer surface of the separator assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a central core element for separator assemblies useful in the purification of fluids, for example separator assemblies useful for the desalination of seawater. The central core element provided by the present invention comprises at least two porous exhaust conduits wherein each porous exhaust conduit comprises an exhaust channel and one or more openings which allow fluid communication between an exterior surface of the porous exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel. The central core element defines a cavity into which may be disposed a first portion of a membrane stack assembly. In the preparation of a separator assembly comprising the central core element provided by the present invention, a second portion of the membrane stack assembly forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element. Also provided are central core elements for salt separator assemblies and spiral flow reverse osmosis devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a separator assembly comprising a central core element comprising at least two permeate exhaust conduits and not comprising a concentrate exhaust conduit; and a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least two permeate carrier layers, and at least two membrane layers, the membrane layers being disposed between the feed carrier layer and the permeate carrier layers; wherein the permeate exhaust conduits are separated by a first portion of the membrane stack assembly, and wherein a second portion of the membrane stack assembly forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element, and wherein the feed carrier layer is not in contact with a permeate exhaust conduit, and wherein the permeate carrier layers are in contact with at least one permeate exhaust conduit. Also provided are salt separator assemblies and spiral flow reverse osmosis devices.

Abstract: An activatable pump is provided. The pump includes a piston in slideable communication with an inner surface of a cylinder, which has a first end and a second end. A first control valve and a second control valve are in physical communication with the first end of the cylinder. The first control valve and the second control valve are in fluid communication with the piston. Either the first control valve or the second control valve is not a check valve. A first check valve and a second check valve are in physical communication with the second end of the cylinder. The first check valve and the second check valve are in fluid communication with the piston. A pressure controller communicates with the piston to control an amount of force by or on the piston. A method and an energy recovery apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A connector for a bracket including a male adapter and a female adapter is provided. The male adapter includes a first base structure and a neck structure protruding out of the base structure and is disposed on a surface to be clamped. The neck structure includes multiple first lobes extending radially outward from the neck structure. The first lobes include a first mating surface contour on a bottom surface. The female adapter includes a second base structure. The second base structure includes multiple second lobes made of a flexible material. The second base structure also includes a second mating surface contour on a top surface and is configured to fit into said first mating surface contour thereby deforming said multiple second lobes to induce a clamping force between a shoulder of said female adapter and a surface of a bracket.

Abstract: Nozzles having variable geometry are disclosed that are comprised of a plurality of vanes that contact one another and can slide with respect to one another. A control element forces the vanes to slide, with contacting sides of the vanes defining an inner flow path through which a fluid may pass. The vanes may be self-similar or different from one another to define the desired geometries of the opening in the nozzles. The vanes may be configured to provide convergent, divergent and convergent-divergent nozzles for a range of applications.

Abstract: A method for designing, and optionally making, an article of manufacture. Customer requirement parameters are defined and related engineering parameters are chosen. A parametric geometrical representation (i.e., a master model) of the article is created in terms of geometric parameters using a computer program. A design analysis methodology is crated and programmed into a computer code and stored on a computer medium such that the engineering parameters and the customer requirement parameters are program inputs and the geometric parameters of the master model are program outputs. Specific values of the inputs are inputted into the computer code. The computer code is run on a digital computer and specific values of the geometric parameters of the master model are outputted.