Abstract: A system for storing fluids provides a plurality of containers, a filtering or osmotic fluid processing system and a fluid crossconnect system for connecting the containers with the processing system. Fluid can be drawn from a selected container, processed and directed back to a container, replacing previously processed fluid. Storage volume required in closed fluid processing systems is thereby minimised.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for storing electrical power in the form of relative chemical potential between a concentrated solution, typically salt brine, and a dilute version of the same solution. To recover the power, the concentrated solution and dilute solution are supplied to a means for transforming the difference in their chemical potential into electrical power by such means as pressure retarded osmosis or reverse electrodialysis. In operation such means take in the concentrated and dilute solutions and exhaust a solution of intermediate concentration. The concentrated solution is supplied from a container such as a pond. It is generated by evaporation of the intermediate concentration solution in a second, separate pond, which receives the exhaust from the power generation means. The exhaust solution is concentrated by evaporation and is transferred into the first pond when the concentration has reached a sufficient level.

Abstract: Electrical energy is stored in a concentrated solution. To recover the energy, the concentrated solution is rediluted for example by pressure retarded osmosis. The concentrated solution is generated by evaporation of the exhaust solution from the energy recovery process. The evaporation is enhanced by electrically powered enhancement means and the corresponding electrical input constitutes the power to be stored. The enhanced evaporation also draws heat from the environment, whereby the input electrical energy is augmented, partially or completely offsetting inefficiencies in the system. In grid applications, when demand for electricity is high the enhancement is discontinued and power is generated from the stored concentrated brine. Alternatively the evaporation enhancement may draw power from a power source that does not operate continuously, such as a renewable energy source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for storing electrical power in the form of relative chemical potential between a concentrated solution, typically salt brine, and a dilute version of the same solution. To recover the power, the concentrated solution and dilute solution are supplied to a means for transforming the difference in their chemical potential into electrical power by such means as pressure retarded osmosis or reverse electrodialysis. In operation such means take in the concentrated and dilute solutions and exhaust a solution of intermediate concentration. The concentrated solution is supplied from a container such as a pond. It is generated by evaporation of the intermediate concentration solution in a second, separate pond, which receives the exhaust from the power generation means. The exhaust solution is concentrated by evaporation and is transferred into the first pond when the concentration has reached a sufficient level.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the use of wavelength channels to bypass nodes in ring networks. For networks with a small number of nodes, direct node to node routes are provided without changing the physical layout of the fibre in the ring. Architectures providing complete transparent interconnections with extra capacity for heavily used routes on a portion of the ring are disclosed. For networks with a large number of nodes, underconnected networks provide a number of accelerated, direct routes between some of the nodes. Proposed architectures for underconnected networks and methods for self-routing the traffic are also provided.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic delay line filter is disclosed having each fiber optic light path terminate on a corresponding photo detector adapted to convert the received optical signal to a commensurate electrical signal in bi-polar proportion to an electrical bias level provided to the photo detector where the bias level for each photo detector is independently settable and the outputs of all of the photodetectors are summed to produce an output electrical signal that is filtered by the arranged fiber optic delay line transversal filter.

Abstract: Logic circuits employ photoresponsive GaAs field effect transistors to directly drive GaAs laser diodes to provide optical output signals in response to optical input signals. Since the only electrical inputs are DC bias voltages, each such circuit can be readily decoupled, such as for use in electrically noisy environments. The optical output represents a predetermined logic condition in response to a predetermined operating current applied to the laser diode as a result of the operation of the photoresponsive device. Two photoresponsive devices may be used to apply two different operating current magnitudes to the laser diode to produce two different optical output signals.

Abstract: The optoelectronic switch includes a photosensitive GaAs FET onto which an optical signal may be directed. The optical signal is derived from an RF modulated light source. A voltage circuit is connected to the FET to switch the FET "on" or "off" by placing a positive or zero voltage respectively on the drain. An isolation of over 70 dB is obtained in this FET switch.

Abstract: The optoelectronic cross-point switch suitable for a broadband switching array includes a photodiode which converts an optical signal impinging upon it to an electronic signal and a biasing circuit for selectively reverse biasing the photodiode to render the photodiode responsive to the optical signal or forward biasing the photodiode to render the photodiode substantially non-responsive to an optical signal. The biasing circuit consists of positive and negative voltage sources and a controllable switch to connect the sources to the photodiode. A load circuit which is connected to the photodiode for developing the output signal may consist of a single resistor, a pair of series resistors, an operational amplifier with feedback or an rf transformer. The load circuit can also include an rf switching diode connected to the photodiode to improve isolation and to reduce the electrical power required to forward bias the photodiode.