Abstract: An infrastructure funding system permits budgeting the cost of maintaining and repairing an asset infrastructure system over its lifetime with fixed periodic costs over the lifetime of the system. This is accomplished by assessing the current lifetime and asset maintenance value of the system and establishing a total cost estimate for maintaining and repairing the system. The burden of maintaining and repairing the system is then transferred to a vendor. The vendor then collects the total cost estimate in increments over the lifetime of the system and assumes full responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the system.

Abstract: A distillation device for separating a liquid mixture from contaminants contained therein. The device partially cools, using an air radiator or equivalent passive heat-exchange device, a fluid of that contains at least one component of the mixture to be separated; the temperature of the fluid does not fall the ambient air temperature, thus preventing condensation on the heat exchanger. The partially cooled fluid is introduced into an aspirator and combined therein with a gaseous stream produced by heating the mixture to boiling in a separate chamber. Because of the high surface area of contact between vapor and aspirated liquid, the heat transfer is completely effective to condense the gaseous mixture, which settles into a pool. The components can then be separated mechanically or by gravity.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus that provides for immersion cleaning in one or two solvents. Using a source of inert gas and a recycling loop, the apparatus provides a drying zone above the solvents and prevents escape of solvent vapor into the surrounding atmosphere. The recycling loop maintains nonequilibrium vapor conditions and includes a centrifugal separator, which facilitates separation and recovery of the solvent vapors and the inert gas during normal operation of the system.