Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus for generating electrical power using solar energy and an air mass rising from a mine shaft. The mine shaft has a generally inclined or vertical shaft, a shaft opening at approximately the ground level, and a lower end portion of the shaft includes an air inlet. A solar collector converts the sun's radiant energy into heat and heats a heat exchange or working fluid as it passes through the solar collector to increase its temperature.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a refining apparatus which incorporates an updraft passing through a surface, which surface has permeable and impermeable regions, in combination with a vibrator, to serve as a device to fluidly suspend a mixture of materials above the surface so that the heavier constituents of the mixture of materials tend to migrate to the surface and remain upon the impermeable regions.