Abstract: Desalination and rinsing methods and systems are provided, which use a liquid column to efficiently perform freeze desalination and enable recyclable washing of produced minerals or combustible material. The liquid column comprises alternating layers of water immiscible liquids and water solutions which form a vertical density gradient (discrete or continuous) and exhibit a lower freezing zone from which ice floats to an upper melting zone. Cooling of introduced upwards flowing salt solutions is carried out by a countering downwards flow of cold water immiscible liquid. The process is cyclical, involves few if any mechanical moving parts and is easily controllable and adaptable to varying desalination circumstances. Rinsing of minerals or combustible material may be integrated in the heat and matter flows of the desalination system to allow effective rinsing, desalination and recycling of the used water.

Abstract: A method for operating a compressor device and associated compressor device including a compressor chamber and a cooling chamber adjoining the compressor chamber is provided. The pressure of a cooling medium in the cooling chamber is held above the pressure of a compressor medium in the compressor chamber during operation of the compressor device.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for utilizing a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid for the purpose of remediation and retrieval of, e.g., pollutant biomass from marine/aquatic and terrestrial environments. In some implementations, systems and apparatus are provided for applying a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid to a volume of biomass, and further having structure for collecting the biomass. Some implementations are environmentally-neutral. Some implementations convert the collected biomass into biofuel. Some implementations initially employ the biomass to remediate an aquatic body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method that achieves water desalination by utilizing and optimizing clathrate hydrate phenomena. Clathrate hydrates are crystalline compounds of gas and water that desalinate water by excluding salt molecules during crystallization. Contacting a hydrate forming gaseous species with water will spontaneously form hydrates at specific temperatures and pressures through the extraction of water molecules from the bulk phase followed by crystallite nucleation. Subsequent dissociation of pure hydrates yields fresh water and, if operated correctly, allows the hydrate-forming gas to be efficiently recycled into the process stream.

Abstract: A beverage bottle container includes a pair of rigid, double-walled mating container portions having inner surfaces for engagement with a beverage bottle. Each of the container portions includes a bottom surface, hinge means, and a top surface which defines a bottle neck receiving passageway. The inner surfaces include bottle engagements means in the form of internal projections suitable to engage and otherwise secure beverage bottles of varying shape and size.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for purifying crystalline substances by charging the feed crystals containing impurities in a solid state to the top of a tower-type continuous crystallizer equipped with an agitating device, bringing said solid feed crystals into countercurrent contact with the melt formed by melting the descending crystals by a heating device provided in the lower section, taking out the purified crystals as melt from the lower section, and taking out the mother liquor containing the concentrated impurities from the upper section and comprises maintaining the temperature of the mother liquor existing in the upper section in a specified range by either heating the feed crystals or the upper section of the continuous crystallizer or making the average particle diameter of the feed crystals 2.5 mm or more.

Abstract: A rigid lightweight portable Beverage Bottle Container is described. It features a two-piece double walled construction, which provides impact, shock protection, and a thermal retention barrier and or coolant for beverage bottles, and features a carry handle.

Abstract: A process for producing, from a dilute aqueous solution of a lower (C.sub.1 -C.sub.5) alcohol, a concentrated liquid solution of the alcohol in an aromatic organic solvent is disclosed. Most of the water is removed from the dilute aqueous solution of alcohol by chilling sufficiently to form ice crystals. Simultaneously, the remaining liquid is extracted at substantially the same low temperature with a liquid organic solvent that is substantially immiscible in aqueous liquids and has an affinity for the alcohol at that temperature, causing the alcohol to transfer to the organic phase. After separating the organic liquid from the ice crystals, the organic liquid can be distilled to enrich the concentration of alcohol therein. Ethanol so separated from water and concentrated in an organic solvent such as toluene is useful as an anti-knock additive for gasoline.

Abstract: A system for extracting heat from low temperature water includes a source of water at a temperature between approximately 0.degree. C. and 10.degree. C. and a heat pump removing heat from the water and transporting it for transfer to an external heating circuit. The heat pump has a closed circuit containing a heat transport fluid, a condenser, and an evaporator. The water, acting as a heat source, is fed into a vacuum vessel and subjected to triple-point conditions thereby concomitantly forming water vapor and a water/ice crystal suspension. The evaporator is disposed in the vacuum vessel out of direct contact with the water/ice crystal suspension for absorbing heat from the evaporated water vapor.

Abstract: The process involves the steps of:spraying droplets of an aqueous alcohol input solution through spray-bars into a heat transfer fluid contained within a refrigerated process vessel and allowing the droplets to fall through the heat transfer fluid so that some of the water separates out as ice in the droplets;collecting the droplets as a slurry of ice and concentrated solution at the bottom of the process vessel andsubsequently removing the ice to produce a concentrated output solution from the process.The process can be repeated in subsequent process stages up to a limiting concentration of 92% by weight of alcohol in the case of ethanol. The invention includes apparatus in which the process can be performed. Means by which the efficiency of the process may be optimized are also included.

Abstract: A salt water purification apparatus and process utilizes a vertically arranged elongated tank in which salt water is first frozen into a solid block and then melted to provide pure water. The freezing is accomplished by injecting into a column of salt water within the tank, a finely atomized spray of precooled mercury to absorb heat from the water and to initiate the formation of ice crystals in the ice column. The mercury is continuously recirculated through a cooling means and the ice crystals accumulate in the upper portion of the tank due to their inherent buoyancy when they form a solid block of ice. A heat exchanger positioned in the upper portion of the tank thaws the upper portion of the ice block by indirect heat exchange with the incoming salt water feed. The block is moved upwardly in the tank due to hydraulic pressure created below the block by the salt water feed.