Abstract: A solar energy harvester comprises: an elongated stationary solar irradiance converter assembly; a concentrator comprised of a substantially flat array of flat reflective heliostatic slats disposed at tilt angles to concentrate the sun onto the converter assembly, said slats each rotating in elevation about a north-south axis; sun sensor detecting the efficacy of concentration as the sun traverses; and control circuitry and drive motor positioning the collector in elevation according to the sun sensor so that the slat array tracks and faces the sun whenever the solar incident energy is greater than a selectable threshold level.

Abstract: A water vapor ejector comprises a desiccant disposed in a communication path to a green house enclosure. In the day time and under sunlight exposure, the green house enclosure heats up, which dries the desiccant and generates a flow to the outside ambient through a pressure difference. The moisture trapped in the desiccant is then released to the outside ambient. In the night time, the green house enclosure cools, which generates a flow to the inside of the enclosure. The desiccant traps the moisture within the flow, ensuring a moisture-free enclosure. The cycle re-starts in the next morning when the enclosure heats up. The diurnal cycle removes the water vapor present in the enclosure and delivered to the exterior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A water vapor ejector comprises a desiccant disposed in a communication path to a green house enclosure. In the day time and under sunlight exposure, the green house enclosure heats up, which dries the desiccant and generates a flow to the outside ambient through a pressure difference. The moisture trapped in the desiccant is then released to the outside ambient. In the night time, the green house enclosure cools, which generates a flow to the inside of the enclosure. The desiccant traps the moisture within the flow, ensuring a moisture-free enclosure. The cycle re-starts in the next morning when the enclosure heats up. The diurnal cycle removes the water vapor present in the enclosure and delivered to the exterior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A solar energy harvester comprises: an elongated stationary solar irradiance converter assembly; a concentrator comprised of a substantially flat array of flat reflective heliostatic slats disposed at tilt angles to concentrate the sun onto the converter assembly, said slats each rotating in elevation about a north-south axis; sun sensor detecting the efficacy of concentration as the sun traverses; and control circuitry and drive motor positioning the collector in elevation according to the sun sensor so that the slat array tracks and faces the sun whenever the solar incident energy is greater than a selectable threshold level. Solar power is harvested as either electricity or thermal energy or both. In the case where both electric and thermal energy are harvested the electricity produced is according to the limits of photovoltaic efficiency and the remaining solar irradiance is harvested as useful heat.

Abstract: A solar energy harvester comprises: a planar solar harvester panel serving to absorb sunlight and convert it to useful power such as electricity and/or heat; a planar north (in the northern hemisphere) wall which is specularly reflective on its south side, running east-west and positioned adjacent the north end of the harvester panel. The reflective north wall may be considered to create a second, equal, virtual harvester panel to convert additional energy, or alternately to create a virtual sun to illuminate the harvester panel from the north. The solar energy harvester effectively doubles the output of useful power of a prior art solar harvester panel alone.

Abstract: A method of conditioning a process stream of air in an air conditioning system wherein the process stream of air is dehumidified and cooled to provide a conditioned stream of air, the method comprising providing an adsorption wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which the process air can flow for adsorbing moisture therefrom, the wheel capable of adsorption of moisture from the process air and of regeneration on a continuous basis as the wheel rotates. The method further comprises passing a first portion and a second portion of the process air to be conditioned through the wheel to remove moisture therefrom, the first portion of the process air passing through the wheel after the regeneration to remove beat from the wheel prior to the second portion passing through the adsorption wheel; then introducing the first portion of the process air to a heat exchanger to remove heat from the first portion.

Abstract: A method of conditioning a process stream of air in an air conditioning system wherein the process stream of air is dehumidified and cooled to provide a conditioned stream of air, the method comprising providing an adsorption wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which the process air can flow for adsorbing moisture therefrom, the wheel capable of adsorption of moisture from the process air and of regeneration on a continuous basis as the wheel rotates. The method further comprises passing a first portion and a second portion of the process air to be conditioned through the wheel to remove moisture therefrom, the first portion of the process air passing through the wheel after the regeneration to remove heat from the wheel prior to the second portion passing through the adsorption wheel; then introducing the first portion of the process air to a heat exchanger to remove heat from the first portion.

Abstract: A down-hole drilling apparatus having a drill tool assembly with a cutting head at one end connected to an umbilical which extends to a retrieval reel on the surface. The umbilical provides electrical power, drilling fluid and means for instrumentation and control signals to be transmitted between the drill tool assembly and a processing device on the surface. The drill tool assembly can propel itself into or out of a bore hole by the cyclical actuation of anchor and ram units or change the direction of drilling by actuation of thruster assemblies in response to control signals sent manually by an operator or automatically by the processing device.