Abstract: A method for distilling a fluid which is useful, for instance, in eliminating salt from brackish and/or sea water includes percolating films on plates with multiple effects having several evaporating zones and condensation zones. The evaporation zones (EVAP) and the condensation zones (COND) are vertically arranged. The liquid to be distilled emerges in the top part of the evaporation zone (EVAP). The vapors produced in the evaporation zone (EVAP) are horizontally transferred into the condensation zone (COND) through a communicating connection. The condensed liquid percolates vertically along the walls of the condensation zone and is evacuated from the lower part of the condensation zone. A distilling plant is also provided for implementing the distilling method, and includes plural cascades made up of elementary cells alternatingly assembled in thermal series.

Abstract: A chiller for cooling a chilling fluid that feeds an air-conditioning system of a building, the chiller comprising firstly a boiler-separator for separating the two components of a refrigerant, one of which components is volatile, by heating and evaporation, and secondly a mixer for reforming the refrigerant by evaporation and absorption.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I), or a salt or solvate thereof, ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted aralkyl; R.sub.3 represents alkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted aralkyl and R.sub.4 represents alkyl or optionally substituted aryl; a process for preparing such compounds and the use of such compounds for resolving certain racemates.

Abstract: A contactor for the transfer of matter and heat between gas and liquid comprising a helical support of heat conductive material allowing the flow of a liquid to be treated, a wall of heat conductive material and in thermal contact with the said support, separating in sealing-tight manner the said liquid and a heat exchanging fluid, characterized in that the said support and the said wall are formed by a vertical stack of open work plates of a heat conductive material, offset angularly in respect of one another by rotation according to the axis of the said support, each plate thus forming an element of the said support, like a step of a spiral staircase, and an element of the said wall, in such a way as to obtain an economical and efficient evaporator or absorber.

Abstract: Working fluid for absorption heat pumps operating at very high temperature, particularly 200.degree. to 1000.degree. C., said working fluid being a mixture of at least two constituents, characterized in that the working fluid is constituted by a mixture of at least two chemical elements, whereof the first called the "solvent" is much more volatile than the others called "solutes" at the temperature of the mixture, the nature and proportions of each of the chemical elements in the mixture being chosen in such a way that the Vapour pressure of the mixture is significantly below that of the first, more volatile chemical element throughout the operating cycle of the working fluid in the pump.These chemical elements can in particular be metals such as mercury or sodium, or metalloids such as sulphur.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat exchange between a fluid circulating in a tube of heat conductive material and a flow of liquid in a thin layer circulating by gravity in a channel of heat conductive material, in thermal contact with the tube and disposed in the manner of a helix around the tube. The invention has application to evaporation, desorption, condensation, and absorption in chemical and physico-chemical reactors, and especially in air conditioning and refrigeration systems.