Abstract: A desalination system (100) having an intake unit (110) providing seawater to a pre-treatment unit (120) connected to a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination unit (130) and a post treatment unit (150). The desalination system (100) is configured to operate without any external addition of chemicals to simplify logistics and regulation concerns. The units of the system are configured to prevent biofouling, scaling and corrosion by mechanical and biological means including high flow speeds, biological flocculation of colloids, and making the water entering the RO units inhospitable to bacteria and other organisms that cause biofouling, hence preventing their settlement and removing them with the brine. Recovery rate is lowered and energy is recovered to increase the energetic efficiency and minerals that are added to the product water are taken from the brine.

Abstract: This disclosure provides water processing apparatuses, systems, and methods for recovering water from wastewater such as urine. The water processing apparatuses, systems, and methods can utilize membrane technology for extracting purified water in a single step. A containment unit can include an ionomer membrane, such as Nafion®, over a hydrophobic microporous membrane, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The containment unit can be filled with wastewater, and the hydrophobic microporous membrane can be impermeable to liquids and solids of the wastewater but permeable to gases and vapors of the wastewater, and the ionomer membrane can be permeable to water vapor but impermeable to one or more contaminants of the gases and vapors. The containment unit can be exposed to a dry purge gas to maintain a water vapor partial pressure differential to drive permeation of the water vapor, and the water vapor can be collected and processed into potable water.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery device for a marine vessel is disclosed. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the waste heat recovery device for a marine vessel includes: a heat exchanger, which recovers heat from the exhaust fumes discharged from the engine, to heat a first refrigerant under uniform pressure; a turbine which is driven by adiabatically expanding the first refrigerant heated under uniform pressure; a condenser which condenses the adiabatically expanded first refrigerant; and a heat exchanging pump which compresses the condensed first refrigerant so as to re-circulate the compressed first refrigerant to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A solar energy conversion and distillation apparatus floats on a body of saltwater and includes a matrix of buoyant distillation modules that produce and collect distilled water for on-shore usage. The distillation modules and other buoyant structures are mutually joined within a peripheral seawall to form an atmospheric barrier, and each distillation module includes a submerged energy absorber layer to form an energy conversion chamber that confines a shallow volume of solar-heated seawater. Water vapor in the air above the confined water condenses on chilled heat exchanger conduits, and the energy absorber layer is water permeable so that confined water lost to evaporation and condensation is replenished with water from a thermal reservoir underlying the energy conversion chamber. Buoyant mistifier units in each distillation module enhance the evaporative surface area of the water vapor subject to condensation.

Abstract: A solar air conditioning device (100) includes a solar collector assembly (30), an inlet assembly (10) at an entrance of the solar collector assembly, and an outlet assembly (50) at an exit of the solar collector assembly. The solar collector assembly includes a heat-absorbing set (31) and a transparent panel (38) being assembled to a top of the heat-absorbing set. The heat-absorbing set comprises a plurality of heat-absorbing units (32) engaged with each other. Each of the heat-absorbing units includes two adjacent supporting members (33) and a heat-absorbing plate (35) sandwiched between and buckled with the two supporting members. The heat-absorbing set defines an air channel (314) with the transparent panel and a heat-absorbing channel (315) below the air channel. The inlet and outlet assemblies are in fluidic communication with the heat-absorbing channel.

Abstract: A continuous supply of fresh water achieved through desalinization by a system of Venturi shafts to increase the velocity and pressure of air flow allowing for increased condensation and processing of evaporated water through a structure (1) that incorporates a blackened evaporation surface (16), concave Venturi wind walls (50), a vertical Venturi wind shaft (10), condensation chambers (5) connected by horizontally stacked hollow cylinders (61), a heat transfer duct (40) that draws cool air from a water body, vents hot air through an air exhaust port (48), and a water drainage port (35) that flows water to a reservoir (36).

Abstract: A plant and process for efficient production of low deuterium water from seawater. The plant includes a solar still with a black pan for collecting solar heat, that vaporizes portions of the seawater and a porous sloped membrane positioned over the black pan to collect and condense the vapor and to direct the condensate via gravity to a condensate tank. The condensate water is separated into its atomic components, hydrogen and oxygen, in an electralizer; then the hydrogen and oxygen are combined in a reactor to produce heat and low deuterium water. In preferred embodiments the reactor is a fuel cell which in addition to the heat and water also produces electricity. At least a portion of the heat produced in the reactor is used in the solar still to assist in the vaporization of the seawater and to greatly increase the efficiency of the still.

Abstract: A solar water desalination and purification device includes an outer liquid-tight containment and an inner liquid-tight containment disposed within the outer containment. The outer containment collects liquid that forms from condensing water vapor that evaporates within the inner containment and passes through the inner containment material. The inner containment is made from hydrophobic material that allows water vapor to pass through the material as the sunlight evaporates the contaminated water within the inner containment. An inlet communicates with the inner containment for allowing the contaminated water to fill the inner containment. An outlet communicates with the outer containment to allow discharge of condensed water vapor collected within the outer containment to be used as drinking water.

Abstract: A solar cell floats over a body of saline water. A submerged fresh water collection system underlies the cell. A partial vacuum is created in the solar cell for drawing water vapor from the cell to the collection system. Water vapor is condensed in a condenser disposed between the cell and the collection system. Heat generated by the condensation of water vapor is utilized to heat the salt water, which rises upwardly to replace the salt water vaporized in the cell. The fresh water from the fresh water collection system is routed under the cell such that it becomes thermally enriched. The thermally enriched fresh water is provided to a power generator to improve efficiency.

Abstract: A solar distillation loop apparatus includes a first pipe section disposed on a ground surface, the first pipe section including a substantially straight portion and elevated portions on each end of the substantially straight portion, an impure water inflow coupling at one end of the straight portion and an impure water outflow coupling at the other end of the straight portion; solar powered fans disposed in each of the elevated portions of the first pipe section; a second pipe section disposed under the ground surface beneath the first pipe section; and two substantially vertical pipe sections that connect respective ends of the second pipe section to respective ends of the first pipe section.

Abstract: A solar water still (10) includes an enclosure assembly (12) and an evaporation assembly (14) that float on a body of source water and that are readily collapsed and folded for storage or transport. The enclosure assembly includes a transparent conical dome (20) covering a collection reservoir (18) and an inner float ring (16). The evaporation assembly is placed in the center of the inner float ring. During operation, solar radiation induces water to evaporate from the evaporation assembly. The water vapor is then condensed and collected by the enclosure assembly.

Abstract: Cultivated field water is desalinated by a series of independent units that float on the water surface, taking up the saline water with a wick, evaporating the water from the wick in desalinating relation by concentrating incident solar radiation with a combination of a lenses and cooperating mirrors onto the upper end portion of the wick while the wick lower end portion is immersed in the field water, capturing the desalinated vapor resulting by condensing within the unit and returning the condensed, desalinated water to the field, and periodically renewing the wick by rinsing the salt from it at a cleaning station beyond the field.

Abstract: An apparatus for the desalination or purification of water includes a non-solid vessel (3) having a bottom defining an opening, the vessel (3) capable of being partially submerged below the surface of a body of water, a pan (5) located within the vessel (3), the pan (5) being flexibly connected to the inner wall of the vessel (3) and being located beneath the surface of the water (13), a lens fixably connected to the top of the vessel (3), wherein the lens is focused beneath the surface of the water (13) and above the surface of the pan (5) a device for varying the orientation of the vessel (3) in accordance with the location of the sun, and a device for condensing steam generated in the non-solid vessel (3), whereby steam generated in the non-solid vessel (3) is condensed outside of the non-solid vessel (3).

Abstract: The present invention, a SOLAR DESALINATION PLANT is a water desalinating plant utilizing solar energy. It comprises of an airtight housing chamber covered with a transparent dome at its top and a transparent wall constructed over a source of saline or murky water. The chamber stands in the water and the water covers entire bottom portion inside the chamber. The surface of the water inside the chamber is covered with black floats. There is an horizontal channel in the form of an open duct above the surface of the water all around fixed to the wall inside the chamber. The channel slightly slopes down into an outlet pipe and a transparent U-tube connecting to a transparent collecting tank. A suction pump is connected between the collecting tank and a storage tank through a valve. The storage tank is also connected to the collecting tank through another valve. The transparent dome allows the sun's rays to pass through into the chamber to heat the black floats.

Abstract: A solar cell floats over a body of saline water. A submerged fresh water collection system underlies the cell. A partial vacuum is created in the solar cell for drawing water vapor from the cell to the collection system. Water vapor is condensed in a condenser disposed between the cell and the collection system. Heat generated by the condensation of water vapor is utilized to heat the salt water, which rises upwardly to replace the salt water vaporized in the cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for the desalination or purification of water comprises a non-solid vessel (3) having a bottom defining an opening, the vessel (3) capable of being partially submerged below the surface of a body of water, a pan (5) located within the vessel (3), the pan (5) being flexibly connected to the inner wall of the vessel (3) and being located beneath the surface of the water (13), a lens fixably connected to the top of the vessel (3), wherein the lens is focused beneath the surface of the water (13) and above the surface of the pan (5) means for varying the orientation of the vessel (3) in accordance with the location of the sun, and means for condensing steam generated in the non-solid vessel (3), whereby steam generated in the non-solid vessel (3) is condensed outside of the non-solid vessel (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to water treatment using solar energy.The desalination plant includes an evaporator-desalter communicating with an intake system for water to be desalinated and a vapour and condensate discharge system. The evaporator is essentially at least a portion of a water pool wherein the density of water is higher than that of the water being desalinated, and mounted above the water pool are atomizers and branch pipes of the vapour and condensate discharge system. The atomizers and the branch pipes are provided with a collapsible roof. The surface of the water pool of the evaporator is covered with a film having floating elements shaped as balls.The invention can be used for water desalination in droughty and waterless coastal areas nearby the seas and oceans.

Abstract: A method for transferring water upwardly and distilling it and/or of generating electricity by harnessing the heat of sunrays. The method includes placing a panel or a sheet which permits sunrays to pass therethrough near a water surface, evaporating the sea or lake water by heating it with sunrays passing through the panel or sheet, then, letting the steam thus produced rise up to a higher level due to its pressure. The steam is then cooled down to produce distilled water and/or, it is used to generate electricity.

Abstract: A system for desalinating saltwater. The system includes a platform container and a plastic dome covering through which solar ray heat passes to distall the saltwater fed therein and thereby separate therefrom distilled fresh water.