Charles P Minning

US Patent:

43312004, May 25, 1982

Filed:

Dec 26, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/106984

Inventors:

Algerd Basiulis - Redondo Beach CA
Charles P. Minning - South Pasadena CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Culver City CA

International Classification:

F28D 1500

US Classification:

16510422

Abstract:

A high concentration gradient across a solvent permeable membrane (20), separating the solution and solvent reservoirs (12, 16) or an osmotic pumped heat pipe (10), is effected by inducing convection currents across the membrane material on its solution reservoir side (34). The induced convection current is created by the difference in densities of rich and lean solute-solvent mixtures which are caused respectively to traverse separate paths (40, 42). These convection currents sweep and mix with the solvent which has been freshly pumped through the membrane from the solution reservoir side (34).