Systems and methods for extracting and distilling solventfrom contaminated effluent solution

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for recovering solvent from a contaminated effluent. In some embodiments, a system includes: a dilution entrochemical array (ECA) comprising at least one entrochemical amplifier (EA) unit configured to concentrate a first contaminated effluent and dilute a first draw solution; a distillation ECA fluidically coupled to the dilution ECA, the distillation ECA comprising at least two EA units configured to separate the first diluted draw solution into a distilled solvent and the first draw solution, concentrate a second contaminated effluent, and dilute a second draw solution; and a regeneration ECA fluidically coupled to the distillation ECA, the regeneration ECA comprising at least two EA units configured to concentrate a third contaminated effluent and the second diluted draw solution and dilute a third draw solution. The distilled solvent is recovered from the contaminated effluent.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXTRACTING AND DISTILLINGSOLVENTFROM CONTAMINATED EFFLUENT SOLUTIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 670,580 filed July 12, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods of extracting solvent, and in particular, to systems and methods of extracting and distilling solvent from a contaminated effluent solution.BACKGROUND

[0003] Both industry and nature are sources of liquids that are made up of one or more solvents and varied other substances. A great deal of work exists on methods of recovering one or more of these solvents as a pure or nearly pure product. These methods vary widely and range from osmosis-based methods to thermal methods. Among these methods is distillation, a method that has been utilized successfully for thousands of years and continues to be used today.

[0004] Distillation is a technique for physically separating constituents within a mixture by exploiting differences in boiling points to intentionally induce a liquid-gas state change in the target constituent and collecting the resulting vapor condensate. Distillation has innumerable applications in industry, with examples ranging across water purification and desalination, crude oil stabilization for storage and transport, refinement of fermented products such as alcoholic beverages, extraction of flavors and scents for creating additives, nitrogen and oxygen distillation from air, as well as purification of liquid products obtained from chemical synthesis in industrial chemical applications.

[0005] Simple distillation heats a mixture to boiling, then condenses vapors and collects the condensate. Unfortunately, undesirable volatile compounds may also vaporize and condense with the target liquid instead of remaining in the starting mixture. A secondary process is needed to remove volatile compounds inadvertently drawn over during distillation. Industry has developed several categories of more complex distillation to extract the targeted constituent from the overall mixture by tailoring the method and system to a material’s properties. Categories of complex distillation include: fractional, steam, vacuum, air-sensitive,short path, zone, and cryogenic distillation. Industry has also improved distillation methods and systems to reduce contaminants by relying on multiple steps, such as by using filters.

[0006] Distillation processes are also extremely energy intensive processes, having to overcome the heat of vaporization of the liquid in question. In the case of water, the heat of vaporization is very high, more than 400 times the specific heat. When it is possible to recover and reuse some of this heat, it improves the efficiency of the overall process. Multiple effect distillation is a method that is commonly used to overcome the energy limitations.SUMMARY

[0007] Entrochemical amplifiers (EA) are devices that use heat of vaporization transfers to generate relatively warmed outflowing vapor compared to inflowing vapor. An exemplary EA is illustrated in FIG. 1. The exemplary EA is made up of two independent chambers. As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplary EA includes an emitter chamber containing a low concentration solution, and a receiver chamber containing a high concentration solution. Between the two chambers is a thermal pathway (e.g., an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the chambers, such as a thermally conducive surface) enabling heat to move spontaneously from the warmer chamber into the cooler chamber. Vapor enters the high concentration chamber (e.g., receiver chamber) via a vapor transfer pathway. It is through this pathway that vapor can freely move into the receiver chamber. Vapor leaves the low concentration chamber (e.g., emitter chamber) at a higher temperature than that entering the high concentration chamber (e.g., receiver chamber).

[0008] Typically, when in use, the receiver chamber contains a sorbent and / or draw solution to receive vapor, such that the contents of the receiver chamber become diluted. Typically, when in use, the emitter chamber contains a solution to emit vapor, such that the contents of the emitter chamber become concentrated.

[0009] Solvent vapor enters the receiver chamber of a given EA through a vapor transfer pathway connected to an entrochemical source (ESo; explained below) and / or an emitter chamber, and the solvent vapor is absorbed by the sorbent. The absorption delivers the heat of vaporization, less the heat of mixing and heat of dilution, to the sorbent, warming it. The heat is then transferred, in part, to the emitter chamber of the same EA through the thermal pathway. This warms the liquid in the emitter chamber, which produces vapor at a higher temperature than that entering the exemplary EA. The use of the EA amplifies the temperatureof the incoming vapor, producing a warmer output vapor. This can happen spontaneously, and may need not be enabled by a secondary process.

[0010] An entrochemical source (ESo) is a device that produces solvent vapor which flows out of the device. An ESo can include, but is not limited to, a storage tank, a vapor injector, a steam generator, and an emitter chamber of an EA. For instance, a tank containing a solution based on the solvent in use can be an ESo. Another example can be a container filled with a hydrate which, when heated, decomposes into a non-volatile substance and water. An ESo might also be active, as in a tank containing a solution that is actively heated by an external process. An entrochemical source may also be considered to be an emitter chamber.

[0011] An entrochemical sink (ESi) is a device that absorbs solvent vapor but does not produce more vapor. An ESi can include, but is not limited to, a storage tank, a vapor condenser, a refrigerator, and a receiver chamber of an EA. An example can be a chamber containing a desiccant solution which absorbs water vapor and incorporates it into the solution. Another example can be a container filled with a substance that chemically reacts with the water in a way that consumes it fully. An ESi might also be active, as in a condenser which transforms vapor to liquid and then transfers the heat out of the system. An entrochemical sink may also be considered to be a receiver chamber.

[0012] An entrochemical array (ECA) is a collection of EAs, ESo’s, and / or ESi’s where all EA emitter chambers or entrochemical sources produce vapor that is conveyed to at least one receiver chamber or entrochemical sink in the collection . All of the EAs, ESo’s, and / or ESi’s in this array can be defined as ECA nodes or nodes. The existing vapor transfer pathways between one EA’s emitter chamber and another EA’s receiver chamber, between an ESo and an EA’s receiver chamber, and / or between one EA’s emitter chamber and an ESi, through which solvent vapor is conveyed, can be defined as connections.

[0013] An ECA node which receives vapor from multiple other ECA nodes can be defined as a condensing node. An exemplary EA configured as a condensing node is depicted in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary partial ECA can contain a condensing node (003) that is fed by two additional nodes (002) and (004). The connections (001) (e.g., vapor transfer pathways) lead from the emitter chambers of node (002) and (004) to the receiver chamber of the condensing node (003). The nodes (002), (003), and (004) can be arranged in any position and / or order so long as the connections (001) are maintained.

[0014] An ECA node which produces vapor that is conveyed, through multiple connections, to multiple other ECA nodes can be defined as a forking node. An exemplary EA configured as a forking node is depicted in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, an exemplary partial ECA can contain a forking node (003). The forking node (003) is connected from its emitter chamber through two connections (001) (e.g., vapor transfer pathways) to the receiver chambers of two other nodes, (002) and (004), respectively. The nodes (002), (003), and (004) can be arranged in any position and / or order so long as the connections (001) are maintained.

[0015] Suppose we have a set of nodes and connections in an ECA. That set of nodes and connections is self -connecting if each of the connections connects the emitter of one of the nodes within this group to the receiver of one of the nodes within this group. In particular, no connections connect to or from any of the nodes outside of this group of nodes.

[0016] Consider an entrochemical array (ECA) “A” made up of a set of nodes and their connections. Let two nodes in A be designated as a beginning node and an ending node. Suppose also that there is a finite subset of nodes in A, say { Ai, A2, . . . , AN} where AN is the ending node and Ai is the beginning node. Suppose also that a connection exists between each pair of nodes (Ai,Ai+i) connecting node i to node i+1. Then the set of connections is an energy pathway between the beginning node and the ending node. An exemplary energy pathway between two nodes is depicted in FIG. 4.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 4, there is an energy flow between the nodes (e.g., EAs) at the ends: (006) and (007). This energy may be carried via a series of connections (005) (e.g., vapor transfer pathways, heat transfer pathways or another type of energy transfer pathways) from emitter chambers to receiver chambers arranged in a linear fashion from the beginning node (006) to the ending node (007) through intermediate nodes (008). Energy may be carried via vapor from the emitter in the beginning node (006) to a first receiver in a linear series of amplifiers (EAs) (008). At each node, vapor may be absorbed by the solution in the receiver, heat is transferred to the solution and then to the solution in the emitter. Then, the heat may vaporize a quantity of solution which may then be emitted into the connector. As illustrated in FIG 4., the energy may eventually be deposited in the ending node (007) in this energy pathway example.

[0018] Consider another entrochemical array (ECA) made up of a set of nodes ‘A’ and connections. Let two nodes in A be designated as a beginning node and an ending node. Suppose that there exist two pathways between the beginning node and the ending nodeconsisting of distinct subsets of nodes C={Ai, A2, . . AN} and D={Bi, B2, . . BM} and their associated paths and that these sets are self-connecting. Note that the beginning node is denoted by Ai and Bi and the ending node is denoted by AN and BM. In this example, the ECA has parallel energy pathways between the beginning node and the ending node. Exemplary parallel energy pathways between two nodes through several intermediate nodes on two separate paths are depicted in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, two parallel energy pathways, each comprising a series of connections (005) (e.g., vapor transfer pathways, heat transfer pathways, or another type of energy transfer pathways), carry vapor and / or thermal energy from the emitter chamber in the beginning node (006) to the receiver chamber in the ending (“terminal”) node (007). The vapor and / or energy is carried through the series of connections (005) through two parallel energy pathways, wherein each pathway comprises a first set of nodes (008) or a second set of nodes (009), and wherein each node in the two sets of nodes is an entrochemical amplifier (EA). In the parallel energy pathway example shown in FIG. 5, the energy bifurcates from the beginning node (006), which is a forking node, as described in FIG. 3, into the two parallel energy pathways and condenses back at the ending node (007), which is a condensing node as described in FIG. 2.

[0019] The meaning of these definitions derives from the function of the ECA. As shown in FIG. 6, for a linear configuration of nodes (e.g., EAs), the nodes are connected by a series of connections (005), which may be vapor transfer pathways, heat transfer pathways, or any other type of energy transfer pathways that carry the energy from one node to the next. Thermal energy originating in the leftmost node (i.e., the emitter chamber of the leftmost EA) eventually finds its way through each subsequent node and makes it to the rightmost node (i.e., the receiver chamber of the rightmost EA).

[0020] In the example shown in FIG. 6, there are some drawbacks to such linear configurations of entrochemical arrays (EC As). First, if any node fails along a linear configuration, the entire array fails. It is not fault tolerant. Furthermore, because the energy output (e.g. wattage) of any linear array is limited by the wattage of each of the nodes, the wattage of a linear entrochemical array (ECA) cannot exceed the minimum wattage among the array components.

[0021] The most straightforward remedy for both the limitations described is the use of two parallel pathways, which allows the second pathway to still be functional in the event of a single node failure in the first pathway. Moreover, the use of the two pathways can increase the overall wattage or energy output from an ECA. However, the two parallel pathwayconfiguration may still be susceptible to a systemic failure if a node in each pathway fails in the ECA.

[0022] Therefore, there exists a need to develop novel architectures that can achieve both a greater fault tolerance and / or a higher wattage than the linear configuration or the parallel pathway configuration. Described herein are novel entrochemical array (ECA) architectures that can achieve both a greater fault tolerance and a higher wattage than a linear configuration of an ECA. A novel ECA architecture disclosed herein incorporates a fault tolerant structure to limit the overall impact of individual (EA) failures on the overall functionality of an ECA, which contains a plurality of EAs.

[0023] Cross-linking is a novel structural configuration of an ECA to create fault-tolerant ECA architectures. In an entrochemical array (ECA), two independent energy pathways between two nodes A and B can be considered cross-linked if there exists a connection between at least one EA along the first energy pathway and an EA along the second energy pathway. If an EA fails along the first energy pathway beyond the cross-linking connection, the vapor flow of the first pathway will be automatically rerouted to the second pathway, and thereby bypass the faulty EA and the remainder of the first pathway. In this way the combined parallel pathways can automatically adapt to failures of individual EAs and preserve the functionality. Cross linking of EAs between at least two energy pathways enables an ECA to automatically adapt to failures of individual EAs and preserve the functionality of the ECA. Moreover, if each pathway is moving less energy than the maximum amount of energy possible along that pathway, the automatic rerouting enabled by the cross-linked structural configuration in the ECA accommodates preservation of some of the energy flux that would otherwise be lost from the malfunctioning pathway.

[0024] In some examples, two parallel pathways can be considered to be maximally crosslinked if each of the EAs in the first pathway is cross-linked with another EA from the second pathway, and if each of the EAs from the second path is linked with another EA from the first pathway. A maximally cross-linked pair of parallel pathways can enjoy very significant fault tolerance, making it far more robust than two linear energy pathways. Cross-linking may be used to create various fault-tolerant ECA configurations, such as dilution ECAs, distillation EC As, and / or regeneration ECAs, which can perform the extraction and distillation of solvent from a contaminated effluent solution with greater fault tolerance and higher wattage than existing ECA configurations.

[0025] Many industrial processes require an input of water at some point in the process. Due to the varied contents of local water supplies, the requirements for each industrial installation, even when they are identical with respect to the process itself, may vary with respect to the need to pre-process the water. When dealing with the raw input water, chemicals may be added to remove contaminants from the water and physical processes may be applied to remove contaminants from the water. It is generally significantly less energy intensive to add chemicals to the water which react with contaminants and transform them into different, more benign compounds than to physically separate the water from the contaminants. As a result, most industrial processes use some form of chemical treatment. On the other hand, when very clean, uncontaminated water is needed, this water is generally obtained using some combination of physical processes (reverse osmosis, distillation, etc.). Therefore, there is a need to develop some low energy method of recovering water from a contaminated effluent that provides for the needs of some industrial processes and which does not require high energy but can also provide very pure water.

[0026] In order to meet this need, a dilution ECA may be used to draw solvent from a contaminated effluent solution into a known sorbent solution.

[0027] Additionally, a distillation ECA may be used to distill solvent from a contaminated liquid. In some embodiments, a dilution ECA is used to draw solvent from a contaminated effluent solution into a known sorbent solution. The diluted sorbent solution is distilled in a distillation ECA, recovering the solvent. The higher concentration sorbent solution is regenerated in a regenerator.

[0028] Furthermore, an ECA-based regenerator may use an ECA to regenerate a draw solution, removing one or more solvents that the solution has drawn in. In some embodiments, a dilution ECA is used to draw solvent from a contaminated effluent solution into a known sorbent solution. The diluted sorbent solution is distilled in a distillation ECA, recovering a pure solvent. The higher concentration sorbent solution is regenerated in an ECA-based regenerator.

[0029] An exemplary system for recovering solvent from a contaminated effluent comprises: a dilution entrochemical array (ECA) comprising: at least one first entrochemical amplifier (EA) unit, wherein each EA unit of the at least one first EA unit comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and one or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the one or moreemitter chambers of the at least one first EA unit to one or more receiver chambers of the at least one first EA unit, wherein at least one receiver chamber of the at least one first EA unit is configured to receive a first draw solution, wherein at least one emitter chamber of the at least one first EA unit is configured to receive a first contaminated effluent, wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the dilution EC A, vapor is produced from the first contaminated effluent in the at least one emitter chamber of the at least one first EA unit and moves through the one or more vapor transfer pathways into the at least one receiver chamber of the at least one first EA unit, condensing into solvent and diluting the first draw solution, such that: the first contaminated effluent is concentrated by the evaporation of the vapor to form a first concentrated contaminated effluent, and the first draw solution is diluted by the solvent from the first contaminated effluent to form a first diluted draw solution.

[0030] The system may include a degasser configured to degas one or more of the first draw solution, the first diluted draw solution, the first contaminated effluent, and the first concentrated contaminated effluent. The dilution ECA may be a ring.

[0031] The system may include a distillation ECA fluidically coupled to the dilution ECA, wherein the distillation ECA comprises: at least two second EA units, wherein each EA unit of the at least two second EA units comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and two or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the two or more emitter chambers of the at least two second EA units and the two or more receiver chambers of the at least two second EA units, wherein at least a first emitter chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive the first diluted draw solution from the dilution ECA, wherein at least a second emitter chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive a second contaminated effluent, wherein at least one receiver chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive a second draw solution, and wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the distillation ECA: vapor is produced from the first diluted draw solution and condenses into a distilled solvent, separating the first diluted draw solution into a distilled solvent and the first draw solution, and solvent is moved from the second contaminated effluent into the second draw solution, transforming the second contaminated effluent into a second concentrated contaminated effluent and the second draw solution into a second diluted draw solution. The system may include: a degasser configured to degas one or more of the first draw solution, the first diluted draw solution the distilled solvent, the second draw solution, the second diluted draw solution, the second contaminated effluent, and thesecond concentrated contaminated effluent. The distillation EC A may be a ring. The system may include a first regenerator configured to regenerate the second draw solution by removing excess solvent from the second diluted draw solution. The first regenerator may include: a regeneration ECA fluidically coupled to the distillation EC A, wherein the regeneration ECA comprises: at least two third EA units, wherein each EA unit of the at least two third EA units comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and two or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the two or more emitter chambers of the two or more third EA units to the two or more receiver chambers the two or more third EA units, wherein at least a first emitter chamber of the at least two third EA units is configured to receive a third contaminated effluent, wherein at least a second emitter chamber of the at least two third EA units is configured to receive the second diluted draw solution from the distillation ECA, wherein at least two receiver chambers of the at least two third EA units are configured to receive a third draw solution, and wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the regeneration ECA: solvent is moved from the third contaminated effluent and the second diluted draw solution into the third draw solution, transforming the third contaminated effluent into a third concentrated contaminated effluent, the second diluted draw solution into the second draw solution, and the third draw solution into a third diluted draw solution. The regeneration ECA may be a ring. The system may include a second regenerator configured to receive the third diluted draw solution from the first regenerator, wherein the second regenerator is configured to: transform the third diluted draw solution into the third draw solution by removing solvent from the third diluted draw solution, and release at least a portion of the solvent as solvent vapor. The system may include: a degasser configured to degas one or more of the second draw solution, the second diluted draw solution, the third draw solution, the third diluted draw solution, the third contaminated effluent, and the third concentrated contaminated effluent.

[0032] The apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber may include a thermally conductive surface that is shared by the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber. The system may include: a filter positioned within the one or more vapor transfer pathways. The first diluted draw solution may be transferred to an external process. The first draw solution may be received from an external process.

[0033] It will be appreciated that any of the variations, aspects, features and options described in view of the systems can be combined.

[0034] Additional advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The aspects and descriptions herein are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

[0035] All publications, including patent documents, scientific articles and databases, referred to in this application are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication were individually incorporated by reference. If a definition set forth herein is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents, applications, published applications and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference, the definition set forth herein prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an EA, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an EA configured as a condensing node, receiving vapor from multiple incoming connections, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0038] FIG 3. shows an EA configured as a forking node, producing vapor that is routed to multiple other connections, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates an energy pathway between two nodes, through several intermediate nodes, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates a parallel energy pathway in which energy is routed through two pathways between two nodes through several intermediate nodes on two separate paths, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates a linear ECA configuration, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates cross-linking between two energy pathways, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0043] FIG. 8 illustrates two maximally cross-linked energy pathways between two nodes, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0044] FIG. 9 illustrates an ECA configured as a ring, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0045] FIG. 10 illustrates a single EA configured in self mode, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0046] FIG. 11 illustrates an entrochemical thermal energy transfer device, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0047] FIG. 12 illustrates an entrochemical processor, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0048] FIG. 13 illustrates a mixed entrochemical system, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0049] FIG. 14 illustrates a pure dilution EC A, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0050] FIG. 15 illustrates a pure dilution ring EC A, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0051] FIG. 16 is a graph providing data illustrating the reduction of contamination obtained from a pure dilution EC A, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0052] FIG. 17 illustrates a partial distillation EC A, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0053] FIG. 18 illustrates a partial distillation ring EC A, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0054] FIG. 19 illustrates a minimal regeneration EC A, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0055] FIG. 20 illustrates data from experimental use of the regeneration ECA where a CaCE solution self concentrated to saturation, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0056] FIG. 21 illustrates a minimal distillation ring ECA, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0057] FIG. 22 illustrates a combined regeneration and distillation ring ECA, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0058] FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of fluids into and out of the dilution ECA, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0059] FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of fluids in a two-stage distiller utilizing a dilution ECA and a distillation EC A, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.

[0060] FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of fluids in a two-stage distiller utilizing a dilution ECA, a distillation ECA, and a regeneration ECA, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Described herein are systems and methods for recovering solvent from a contaminated effluent. The recovery of solvent as described herein can involve various entrochemical arrays (EC As), such as dilution EC As, distillation EC As, and / or regeneration EC As. Each type of ECA can contain a custom configuration of entrochemical amplifiers (EAs), wherein each EA includes a receiver chamber containing a sorbent and / or draw solution to receive vapor and / or be diluted, an emitter chamber containing a solution to emit vapor and / or be concentrated, and / or an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber. Each type of ECA also can contain at least one vapor transfer pathway to connect various chambers of the EA.

[0062] In its simplest embodiment, to recover solvent from a contaminated effluent, a dilution ECA system can extract the target liquid solvent from a contaminated effluent solution through vaporization and then condensation of the solvent into a higher concentration draw solution to form a diluted draw solution. At the onset of the solvent transfer process, the contaminated effluent can be contained in at least one emitter chamber of the dilution ECA system, and the higher concentration draw solution can be contained in at least one receiver chamber of the dilution ECA system. Upon the completion of the solvent transfer process, the at least one emitter chamber can contain a concentrated contaminated effluent (e.g., contaminated solutes left behind after vaporization), and the at least one receiver chamber can contain a diluted draw solution. The solvent transfer process can remove contaminated solutes because the solutes may not vaporize and transfer with the targeted liquid solvent. Solutes may include organic compounds and dissolved solids.

[0063] In some embodiments, the diluted draw solution is transferred from the dilution ECA to a distillation ECA, in which the diluted draw solution is distilled to recover a pure solvent. In some embodiments, the higher concentration draw solution of the dilution ECA can be regenerated in a regeneration ECA.I. Transfer of Heat and Matter Within ECA-Based Systems

[0064] In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein harness the equilibrium-seeking nature of an ECA-based system by dynamically transferring thermal energy across system elements (e.g., EC As, vapor pathways, receiver and emitter chambers of the EAs) and capitalizing on differing colligative properties of dissimilar solution variants contained within the system. Distilling liquid from contaminated liquid effluent is used as a primary example throughout this disclosure; however, manipulation of other states of matter is foreseeable with adaptations to the disclosure.

[0065] Due to the purposefully designed structure of the ECA-based system and the dissimilar colligative properties of the solutions within the system, a transfer of heat and / or liquid and / or vapor naturally can initiate as the physically closed ECA-based system tries to reach equilibrium. A thermal gradient can be created within each EA subsystem resulting from energy release and absorption through evaporation and condensation, respectively. The deviation from starting temperature can change each solution’s colligative properties to create a dynamic pull through the system. Heat energy can transfer from deposition locations to other systemic elements as intentionally directed by physical system design. These resulting solution temperature can change further manipulate colligative properties of each solution. Heat energy can enter the colder parts of the system from the surrounding environment, replacing heat lost due to the heat of mixing. An autonomous feedback loop can be created as each subsystem continues to try to reach equilibrium. This systemic feedback loop can drive the extraction and distillation of liquid without further energy input.

[0066] The systems and methods described herein can accelerate a naturally occurring change in systemic vapor pressure by applying a vacuum within one or more ECAs of the ECA-based system to remove atmospheric gases present during system closure. The dissimilar ratios of solute to solvent in solutions present in the system can affect the solutions’ equilibrium vapor pressures, creating a feedback loop across the system to drive the extraction and distillation of the target solvent. Note the solutions may be different, so long as the solvent is the same between solution variants. One or more chambers of the ECAs may be capped to create a physically closed system. Atmospheric gases sealed into the system during capping can be removed with a vacuum pump or other method so that air remaining in the system is largely the vapor state of the liquid solvent. Once the gases are removed, the method of removing the air may be deactivated or completely disconnected from the closed system.

[0067] Effusion is the process whereby a gas moves from a relatively higher-pressure area into a relatively lower-pressure area to reach pressure equilibrium. The systems and methods described herein can strategically connect different chambers (e.g., via connections such as vapor transfer pathways) to allow effusion.

[0068] The transfer of heat and matter within ECA-based systems can be accomplished through various connections to form energy pathways, which comprise a collection of vapor transfer pathways, thermal transfer pathways, and / or other connections that move energy (in the form of heat and / or matter) from one part of the system to another. For example, to transfer both heat and matter, a vapor transfer pathway (also referred to herein as “vapor pathways” and / or simply as “connections”) can be used. Vapor transfer pathways may transfer solvent vapor between one EA’s emitter chamber and another EA’s receiver chamber, between the emitter and receiver chambers of the same EA, between an ESo and an EA’s receiver chamber, and / or between one EA’s emitter chamber and an ESi, thereby transferring heat and matter simultaneously. A vapor transfer pathway can include, but is not limited to, a pipe, flow, conduit, or other mechanism for transferring vapor and / or solvent. Another type of connection used to transfer solely heat is a thermal transfer pathway (also referred to herein as “thermal pathways” and / or “heat pathways”). Thermal transfer pathways may transfer heat energy between the receiver and emitter chambers of the same EA. A thermal transfer pathway can include, but is not limited to, an apparatus for passively transferring heat, such as a thermally conductive surface shared between the receiver and emitter chambers of the same EA, a heat pipe, and / or an apparatus for actively transferring heat.

[0069] Heat associated with the heat of vaporization can be transferred between receiver and emitter chambers of different EAs in the form of vapor, which is transferred via the vapor transfer pathways. Heat can be transferred between receiver and emitter chambers of the same EA via the apparatuses for passive heat transfer. An example is provided below of how heat and matter (e.g., vapor) can be transferred within an ECA-based system.

[0070] In some embodiments, an ECA for distilling a solvent may comprise two EAs. A draw solution can be placed in the receiver chamber of the first EA (e.g., via an inlet, a flow pathway, or another form of liquid transfer), and an effluent solution can be placed in both the emitter chamber of the first EA and the emitter chamber of the second EA. Under vacuum, a vapor can be produced by the effluent solution in the emitter chamber of the second EA. The vapor can flow through a vapor transfer pathway connecting the emitter chamber of the second EA to the receiver chamber of the first EA. In the receiver chamber of the first EA, the vaporcan be absorbed by the draw solution. When the effluent solution evaporates in the emitter chamber of the second EA, the heat of vaporization can be removed from the effluent solution, reducing its temperature. Thus, when the vapor is absorbed by the draw solution of the receiver chamber of the first EA, the heat of vaporization can be transferred into the draw solution. When a sufficient quantity of vapor is absorbed by the draw solution, the draw solution can become diluted and transform into a diluted draw solution, which can leave the receiver chamber of the first EA as a diluted draw solution. The heat of vaporization can then be transferred through an apparatus for passively transferring heat (e.g., a thermally conductive surface shared between emitter and receiver chambers of the same EA) from the diluted draw solution in the receiver chamber of the first EA into the effluent solution in the emitter chamber of the first EA. This can induce a vaporization of some of the effluent solution in the emitter chamber of the first EA, generating solvent vapor which can leave the emitter chamber of the first EA via a vapor transfer pathway to the receiver chamber of the second EA (also referred to herein as a “condenser chamber”). At the receiver chamber of the second EA, the vapor can condense and transfer its heat of vaporization to the thermally conductive surface separating the receiver chamber from the emitter chamber of the second EA. This heat can transfer to the effluent solution in the emitter chamber of the second EA. The condensed solvent vapor, which now has been distilled to form the distilled solvent, can leave the receiver chamber of the second EA to be used in a variety of external processes.

[0071] It is to be understood that the above example is not limiting and that any of the ECA configurations and their associated heat / matter transfer processes described herein may follow similar principles as the above example.IL Fault-Tolerant ECA Architectures

[0072] Described herein are alternative ECA architectures that can achieve both a greater fault tolerance and a higher wattage than a linear configuration of an ECA. A fault tolerant architecture of the ECA is one in which the structure of the ECA can limit the overall impact of individual EA failures on the overall ECA function.

[0073] Cross-linking is a novel structural configuration creating fault tolerant ECA architectures as described herein. Given an ECA, two independent energy pathways between two nodes A and B can be considered cross-linked if there exists a connection between at least one EA along the first energy pathway and an EA along the second energy pathway. This connection is a cross-linking connection. In the case of a failure of an EA along the first energypathway beyond the cross-linking connection, the vapor and energy flow of the first pathway can be automatically rerouted to the second pathway, and thereby bypass the faulty EA and the remainder of the first pathway. In this way the combined parallel pathways can automatically adapt to failures of individual EAs and preserve the functionality. In the case that each pathway is moving less energy than the maximum amount of energy possible along that pathway, the rerouting can preserve some of the energy flux that would otherwise be lost from the malfunctioning pathway.

[0074] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary cross-linked parallel energy pathway. Energy originating in the source node Oi l (e.g., ESo) bifurcates into two parallel pathways 008 and 009 created by two linear sets of nodes (e.g., EAs). Energy is carried through these parallel pathways 008 and 009 through a series of connections 005 (e.g., vapor transfer pathways and / or heat transfer pathways) that together link all the pathway nodes to the source Oi l and the sink 012 (e.g., Esi). As shown in FIG. 7, the series of connections 005 can include a series of vapor transfer pathways connecting an emitter chamber of an earlier EA to a receiver chamber of a subsequent EA along the same vapor transfer pathway. All of the EAs can be linked together via the series of connections 005. A cross-linking connection 010 connects the bottom pathway 009 to the top pathway 008, providing a secondary energy path should a specific node on either of the pathways fail. In the illustrated example of FIG. 7, the cross-linking connection 010 is a vapor transfer pathway connecting the emitter chamber of the first EA (e.g., when viewed from left to right) of the bottom pathway 009 to the receiver chamber of the second EA (e.g., when viewed from left to right) of the top pathway 008. For example, vapor that originates from the emitter chamber of the first EA of the bottom pathway 009 can be transferred to the receiver chamber of the second EA of the top pathway 008, which transfers both heat (in the form of thermal energy) and matter (in the form of vapor) between the bottom pathway 009 and the top pathway 008. Thus, in the illustrated example, if the first EA of the first pathway 008 and / or the second EA of the second pathway 009 fails, the cross-linked configuration of FIG. 7 can provide automatic fault tolerance. However, the configuration of FIG. 7 may not be the most robust cross-linking configuration because not all nodes have automatic fault tolerance.

[0075] Two parallel pathways can be considered to be maximally cross-linked if the first path has the property that each of the EAs is cross-linked with another EA from the second path and one EA from the second path is cross-linked with the EA on the first path. A maximally crosslinked pair of parallel pathways can enjoy very significant fault tolerance, making it far more robust than two linear energy pathways. Cross-linking may be used to create various fault-tolerant ECA configurations that will be explained in further detail below, such as dilution EC As, distillation ECAs, and / or regeneration EC As, which can perform the extraction and distillation of solvent from a contaminated effluent solution with greater fault tolerance and higher wattage than existing ECA configurations.

[0076] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary maximally cross-linked configuration. In the exemplary configuration, two parallel pathways 008 and 009 connect an energy source 011 to an energy sink 012 through a series of energy-carrying connections 005 (e.g., vapor transfer pathways and / or heat transfer pathways). Further, in addition to the main connections 005 that generate the linear pathways 008 and 009, an additional set of cross-linking connections 010 is illustrated here. In the example of FIG. 8, the cross-linking connections 010 include vapor transfer pathways that form the following connections between nodes (e.g., EAs): the emitter chamber of the first EA (e.g., when viewed from left to right) of the bottom pathway 009 to the receiver chamber of the second EA (e.g., when viewed from left to right) of the top pathway 008; the emitter chamber of the first EA of the top pathway 008 to the receiver chamber of the second EA of the bottom pathway 009; the emitter chamber of the second EA of the bottom pathway 009 to the receiver chamber of the third EA of the top pathway 008; and the emitter chamber of the second EA of the top pathway 008 to the receiver chamber of the third EA of the bottom pathway 009.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 8, the cross-linking connections 010 allow energy to flow around any malfunctioning node, providing robust fault tolerance. Only if two nodes the same ‘distance’ from the source fail at the same time can it be possible for energy flow to cease. Any other failure can lead to automatic rerouting of the energy flow.

[0078] Let us suppose that we have an ECA comprising a number of EA units and connections. If it is the case that for every pair of nodes A and B within the ECA, there exists an energy pathway from A to B and an energy pathway from B to A then the ECA is in a ring configuration. A minimal ring is a single EA whose emitter is connected to its receiver. This configuration is called self mode.

[0079] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary ring configuration of nodes (e.g., EAs). In this configuration, heat energy is routed through the ring via a series of energy-carrying connections 005 as follows: from the emitter chamber of the first (e.g., leftmost) EA to the receiver chamber of the second (e.g., middle) EA via a vapor transfer pathway, from the receiver chamber of the second EA to the emitter chamber of the second EA via an apparatusfor passive heat transfer (e.g., a thermally conductive surface shared by the emitter and receiver chambers), from the emitter chamber of the second EA to the receiver chamber of the third (e.g., rightmost) EA via a vapor transfer pathway, from the receiver chamber of the third EA to the emitter chamber of the third EA via an apparatus for passive heat transfer, from the emitter chamber of the third EA to the receiver chamber of the first EA via a vapor transfer pathway, and from the receiver chamber of the first EA to the emitter chamber of the first EA via an apparatus for passive heat transfer, completing the cycle through the ring of nodes / EAs. The energy-carrying connections 005 can include any of the vapor transfer pathways between different EAs and / or apparatuses for passive heat transfer within the same EA. In some embodiments, heat may move along the energy-carrying connections 005 at the same speed, such that the different nodes are at approximately the same temperature (e.g., no significant thermal gradient between nodes). In some embodiments, the emitter chamber and the receiver chamber within a given node may have different temperatures, such that a temperature gradient exists within the given node.

[0080] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary minimal ring / self mode configuration in which a connection from the emitter of an EA brings vapor and heat energy from the emitter chamber to the receiver chamber of the same EA. In this configuration, heat energy is routed within one EA via a connection 005 as follows: from the emitter chamber of the EA to the receiver chamber of the same EA via a vapor transfer pathway, and from the receiver chamber to the emitter chamber via an apparatus for passive heat transfer (e.g., a thermally conductive surface shared by the emitter and receiver chambers). The energy-carrying connections 005 can include the vapor transfer pathways within the same EA and / or the apparatus for passive heat transfer within the same EA.

[0081] If the ECA is configured to draw heat energy from an ESo and deliver it to an ESi, it can be considered an entrochemical thermal energy transfer device. If an ECA is configured to circulate thermal energy among its nodes, not delivering it to an ESi, it can be considered an entrochemical processor. Mixed entrochemical systems can be systems which contain at least one entrochemical processor, such as a ring, and at least one entrochemical thermal energy transfer device that are connected to one-another through one or more connections.

[0082] FIG. 11 illustrates an entrochemical thermal energy transfer device wherein an ECA 013 connects a source 011 to a sink 012. The ECA 013 receives vapor and / or thermal energy from the source 011, processes it through two EA units, and then delivers vapor and / or thermal energy to the sink 012 via connections 005. As shown in FIG. 11, vapor and / or thermal energyfrom the source 001 travels via the connections 005 under vacuum as follows: from the source 011 to the receiver chamber of the first (e.g., leftmost) EA unit of the EC A 013 via a vapor transfer pathway, from the receiver chamber of the first EA unit to the emitter chamber of the first EA unit via an apparatus for passive heat transfer (e.g., a thermally conductive surface shared by the emitter and receiver chambers), from the emitter chamber of the first EA unit to the receiver chamber of the second (e.g., rightmost) EA unit of the EC A 013 via a vapor transfer pathway, from the receiver chamber of the second EA unit to the emitter chamber of the second EA unit via an apparatus for passive heat transfer, and from the emitter chamber of the second EA unit to the sink 012. The connections 005 can include any of the vapor transfer pathways between the source 011, the sink 012, and any of the EAs of the ECA 013, and / or any of the apparatuses for passive heat transfer within the same EA.

[0083] FIG. 12 illustrates a ring-based entrochemical processor in which vapor is carried into the draw solution of each of the EAs. The vapor and heat are carried by connections 005 and all vapor ends up in a draw solution that is being diluted. As shown in FIG. 12, under vacuum, vapor from the emitter chamber of the first (e.g., leftmost) EA unit travels to the receiver chamber of the second (e.g., rightmost) EA unit via a vapor transfer pathway. The vapor can condense into solvent, diluting / warming the contents of the receiver chamber of the second EA unit and releasing thermal energy. The thermal energy can travel from the receiver chamber of the second EA unit to the emitter chamber of the second EA unit via an apparatus for passive heat transfer (e.g., a thermally conductive surface shared by the emitter and receiver chambers). This can cause the solution within the emitter chamber of the second EA unit to heat up, generating vapor which is then transferred to the receiver chamber of the first EA unit via a vapor transfer pathway. The vapor can condense into solvent, diluting / warming the contents of the receiver chamber of the first EA unit and releasing thermal energy. The thermal energy can travel from the receiver chamber of the first EA unit to the emitter chamber of the first EA unit via an apparatus for passive heat transfer. This can cause the solution within the emitter chamber of the first EA unit to heat up, generating vapor and completing the vapor / heat transfer cycle through the ring of EAs. The energy-carrying connections 005 can include the vapor transfer pathways between different EAs and / or the apparatus for passive heat transfer within the same EA.

[0084] FIG. 13 illustrates a mixed entrochemical system. In the example illustrated by FIG. 13, the mixed entrochemical system includes an entrochemical source Oi l, an entrochemical sink 012, an entrochemical thermal energy transfer ECA 013, an entrochemical processor ECA 014,and a plurality of connections 005. The EC A 013 comprises two EAs oriented as a linear thermal energy transfer device akin to the example presented in FIG. 11. The ECA 014 comprises three EAs linked to one another such that they form a ring-based entrochemical processor, akin to the example presented in FIG. 12 but with three EAs instead of two EAs. Notably, the ECA 013 and the ECA 014 share an EA (the overlapping EA), so there are four total EAs in the mixed entrochemical system of FIG. 13. Energy originates from the source 011 and circulates through the ring of ECA 014 while also being delivered to the sink 012 via the ECA 013. The connections 005 can include any of the vapor transfer pathways between the source 011, the sink 012, and any of the EAs of the ECA 013 and / or ECA 014, and / or any of the apparatuses for passive heat transfer within the same EA.

[0085] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, under vacuum, vapor and heat from the source 011 is transferred to the receiver chamber of the overlapping EA, which is the leftmost EA of the ECA 013 and the bottom EA of the ECA 014. The vapor can condense into solvent, diluting / warming the contents of the receiver chamber of the overlapping EA and releasing thermal energy. The thermal energy can travel from the receiver chamber of the overlapping EA to the emitter chamber of the overlapping EA via an apparatus for passive heat transfer (e.g., a thermally conductive surface shared by the emitter and receiver chambers). This can cause the solution within the emitter chamber of the overlapping EA to heat up, generating vapor which is then transferred along two different connections of the plurality of connections 005: a first vapor transfer pathway leading to the receiver chamber of the rightmost EA of the ECA 013, and a second vapor transfer pathway leading to the receiver chamber of the top right EA ofthe ECA 014.

[0086] Following the path of vapor / energy through the ECA 014, under vacuum, a portion of the vapor from the emitter chamber of the overlapping EA travels to the receive chamber of the top right EA of the ECA 014, then condenses into solvent. This can dilute / warm the contents of the receiver chamber of the top right EA of the ECA 014 and releases thermal energy. The thermal energy travels from the receiver chamber of the top right EA of the ECA 014 to the emitter chamber of the same EA via an apparatus for passive heat transfer. This can cause the solution within the emitter chamber of the top right EA of the ECA 014 to heat up, generating vapor that is transferred to the receiver chamber of the top left EA of the ECA 014 via a vapor transfer pathway. The vapor can condense into solvent, diluting / warming the contents of the receiver chamber of the top left EA of the ECA 014 and releasing thermal energy. The thermal energy can travel from the receiver chamber of the top left EA of the ECA 014 to the emitterchamber of the same EA via an apparatus for passive heat transfer. This can cause the solution within the emitter chamber of the top left EA of the EC A 014 to heat up, generating vapor that is transferred to the receiver chamber of the overlapping EA via a vapor transfer pathway. The vapor can condense into solvent, diluting / warming the contents of the receiver chamber of the overlapping EA and releasing thermal energy. The thermal energy can travel from the receiver chamber of the overlapping EA to the emitter chamber of the overlapping EA via an apparatus for passive heat transfer. This can cause the solution within the emitter chamber of the overlapping EA to heat up, generating vapor which is then transferred along two different connections of the plurality of connections 005: a first vapor transfer pathway leading to the receiver chamber of the rightmost EA of the EC A 013, and a second vapor transfer pathway leading to the receiver chamber of the top right EA of the ECA 014. This can complete the cycle of energy through the ECA 014.

[0087] Following the path of vapor / energy through the ECA 013, under vacuum, a portion of the vapor from the emitter chamber of the overlapping EA can be transferred to the receiver chamber of the rightmost EA of the ECA 013 via a vapor transfer pathway. The vapor can condense into solvent, diluting / warming the contents of the receiver chamber of the rightmost EA of the ECA 013 and releasing thermal energy. The thermal energy can travel from the receiver chamber of the rightmost EA of the ECA 013 to the emitter chamber of the same EA via an apparatus for passive heat transfer. This can cause the solution within the emitter chamber of the rightmost EA of the ECA 013 to heat up, generating vapor that is transferred to the sink 012 via a vapor transfer pathway. This can complete the transfer of energy from source 011 to sink 012 through the ECA 013.

[0088] The novel advantage of the ring configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 9, 12, and 13, and later in FIGS. 15, 18, 21, and 22 is also not obvious. The ring configuration can circulate heat around the nodes. Since the circulation can be used to move solvent into the sorbent solutions, one application of this can be the dilution of these sorbent solutions. This might be useful in various industrial processes where the sorbent solution is subsequently used in an industrial process involving the solvent.

[0089] In some embodiments, as energy cycles through the ring configuration, at each stage in which vapor from the emitter chamber enters the draw solution of the receiver chamber, there may be a transfer of heat to the draw solution and a concomitant absorption of heat from the increased entropy of the system (the heat of mixing). This heat of mixing can reduce a portion of the energy transferred; thus, in each cycle around the ring, the amount of energy can bereduced. The result is that the ring becomes colder and colder, though the amount of energy may be a minor amount (e.g., only 5% of the total), such that the rate of cooling is slow. The cooling can be countered by embedding a passive heat transfer system between the environment and one of the emitter chambers of the ring configuration. The passive heat transfer system can passively inject heat into the emitter chamber once it is colder than its environment (which will eventually happen as the system cools down). With this configuration, an environmental heat source can be passively utilized by the system and can maintain the system’s activity level.

[0090] The functionality of EC As can be defined not only by their structure but also by the contents of the various cells in the EAs that make up the EC As. As an example, an ECA consisting of single EA in self mode may have no functionality if both chambers contain quantities of the same liquid. When a vacuum is imposed, nothing may happen. Likewise, using incompatible solvents can yield a system that may have no functionality. For instance, an EA in self mode which uses a draw solution consisting of pentane and dodecane in the receiver can be incompatible with a water effluent in the emitter. A very large class of incompatible choices for draw solutions and connected effluents exists. A use configuration of an ECA is the configuration of the ECA, specifying which chambers are filled and with what. An ECA can be said to have a compatible use configuration if all solvents flowing from emitter chambers through connections into receiver chambers are compatible with the contents of the receiver chamber, forming miscible mixtures therein. If the solvent moving from an emitter chamber is capable of being completely absorbed by the sorbent in any connected receiver chamber, then the sol vent / sorb ent pair can be known as compatible. An example of a compatible configuration would be one where all receiver chambers contain water-based salt solutions and all the emitters contain water. Another would be one where all receivers contain propylene glycol and all the emitters contain water.

[0091] Consider an ECA containing one or more EA units, ESo’s and ESi’s. Suppose that at each receiver chamber and each ESi is filled with a draw solution and that each emitter chamber and each ESo is filled with a very dilute solution or a solvent with no solute. Moreover, let us assume that the solvent in each emitter chamber or ESo is the same solvent that underlies the solution in all receiver chambers or ESi’s to which the emitter chamber or ESo is connected by a connection. Then this ECA can be a pure dilution ECA. A pure dilution ECA configured as a ring can be designated a pure dilution ring. In some embodiments, a puredilution ECA has no other components besides dilution-related components; it is not configured to perform distillation and / or regeneration.

[0092] FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary pure dilution ECA comprising three EA units. In the exemplary pure dilution ECA, under vacuum, vapor can be brought from the emitter chamber of the lower left EA unit into the receiver chamber of the top EA unit and the receiver chamber of the lower right EA unit via the connections 005. This can dilute the draw solutions in the receiver chambers of the two receiving EAs. More specifically, under vacuum, vapor from the emitter chamber of the lower left EA unit can be transferred along a first vapor transfer pathway into the receiver chamber of the top EA unit and along a second vapor transfer pathway into the receiver chamber of the lower right EA unit. Within the receiver chambers of both the top EA unit and the lower right EA unit, the vapor can condense into solvent, diluting / warming the contents of the respective receiver chambers and releasing thermal energy. The thermal energy can travel from the respective receiver chambers to the emitter chambers of the same EAs as the respective receiver chambers via apparatuses for passive heat transfer (e.g., thermally conductive surfaces shared by the emitter and receiver chambers). This can cause the solutions within the emitter chambers of both the top EA unit and the lower right EA unit to heat up, generating vapor that is transferred out of the pure dilution ECA system via one or more vapor transfer pathways. The emitted vapor can be received by an external process, and / or otherwise captured after it exits the pure dilution ECA. The process can be a hermetically sealed process under vacuum so vapor may not be released into the environment.

[0093] FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary pure dilution ring ECA comprising two EA units. Unlike the pure dilution ECA of FIG. 14, vapor may not be emitted from the ECA and can instead be recycled within the ring ECA. In the exemplary pure dilution ring ECA, under vacuum, vapor from the emitter chambers of the EAs in the ring can be delivered via the connections 005 to the receiver chambers of the EAs. This can dilute the draw solutions in the receiver chambers of the EAs. In some embodiments, the pure dilution ring ECA functions akin to the entrochemical processor described in FIG. 12, the energy flow throughout the pure dilution ring ECA mirrors what is described with respect to FIG. 12.

[0094] Consider an ECA containing one or more EA units, ESo’s and ESi’s. Suppose that at least one receiver chamber or ESi is filled with a draw solution. Designate this chamber Ch-1. Suppose that at least one emitter chamber or ESo is filled with a very dilute solution or a solvent with no solute. Designate this chamber Ch-2. Let us further assume that the solvent in Ch-2 is compatible with the solution in Ch-1. Then this ECA is a partial dilution ECA. It isworth noting that every partial dilution ECA can contain an ECA made up of a subset of the larger ECA’s EAs that can be a pure dilution ECA. A partial dilution ECA configured as a ring can be designated a partial dilution ring. Note that an ECA can be a partial dilution ECA without being a pure dilution ECA but those which are pure dilution EC As can also be partial dilution EC As. In some embodiments, a partial dilution ECA includes at least one emitter chamber that is connected to a receiver chamber that contains no draw solution to be diluted, though the receiver chamber may contain a solvent and / or sorbent.

[0095] FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary part of an ECA that enables distillation of a solution. Under vacuum, a solvent and / or solution in the emitter chamber of EA 2 can partially vaporize, and its vapor can be transferred to the receiver chamber of EA 1 via a vapor transfer pathway and absorbed by the draw solution S in the receiver chamber of EA 1. In some embodiments, the draw solution S may be a salt solution. The heat energy released by the absorption can be transferred to the effluent E in the emitter chamber of EA 1 via an apparatus for passively transferring heat energy. Upon being heated up by the heat energy, effluent E can produce vapor in the emitter chamber of EA 1 that travels to the solvent-containing receiver chamber of EA 3 via a vapor transfer pathway. In some embodiments, the solvent can be a dilute solution. In some embodiments, EA 3 can be used as a condenser, and it can deliver heat and solvent to a subsequent EA (e.g., the rightmost EA in FIG. 17). Effluent can move from EA 3 to the subsequent EA’s receiver chamber, lowering the temperature in EA 3. This can enable the solvent to condense in the receiver chamber of EA 3.

[0096] FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary partial distillation ECA configured as a ring. Liquid and / or vapor can be conveyed by the connections 005, which can include any of the vapor transfer pathways described herein. Under vacuum, a solvent and / or solution in the emitter of EA 2 can partially vaporize and its vapor can be transferred to the receiver chamber of EA 1 via a vapor transfer pathway and condenses into pure solvent in the receiver chamber of EA 1. The heat energy released by the condensation can be transferred to the effluent E in the emitter chamber of EA 1 via an apparatus for passively transferring heat energy. Upon being heated up by the heat energy, effluent E can produce vapor in the emitter chamber of EA 1 that travels to the receiver chamber of EA 3 via a vapor transfer pathway. Effluent can move from EA 3 to the receiver chamber of a subsequent EA 014, lowering the temperature in EA 3. This can enable the solvent to condense in the receiver chamber of EA 3. Vapor from the effluent in the EA 014 then can circulate back to EA 2 via a vapor transfer pathway, carrying heat back to EA 2 and recycling it through the partial distillation ring ECA. Since the rate at which the solventcondenses in the emitter chamber of EA 1 can be lower than that the rate of transfer of solvent between the emitter chamber of EA 1 and the receiver chamber of EA 3, the emitter chamber of EA 3 and the receiver chamber of EA 014, and / or the emitter chamber of EA 014 and the receiver chamber of EA 2, the emitter chamber of EA 1 can be sufficiently cooled by movement of heat through the array of EA units to condense the solvent.

[0097] Consider an ECA. Let us suppose that this ECA has an EA in which both the emitter and the receiver are filled with draw solutions Si and S2, respectively and not necessarily identical. Designate this EA as 1. Let us assume that at least one EA, designated EA 2, contains an emitter connected with the receiver from EA 1 and that the solvent or dilute solution in the emitter from EA 2 is compatible with the solution in the receiver from EA 1. Let us also assume that at least one EA, designated EA 3, contains a receiver that is connected to the emitter from EA 1 and contains a draw solution S3 which is compatible with that in the emitter in EA 1. The two solutions S2 and S3, because of their relative concentrations, have the property that if the temperature of S2 exceeds that of S3 by a minimal amount, the solvent in S2 will transfer to S3. In that case, this ECA will concentrate the solution in the emitter chamber of EA 1 provided that the temperature gradient spontaneously generated as the heat transfers from the emitter in EA 1 to the solution S2 in the receiver of EA 1 exceeds the minimal temperature threshold for moving solvent. It can therefore be called a regeneration ECA enabled by solutions Si, S2, and S3. When the ECA is configured as a ring, the ECA can be called a regeneration ring enabled by solutions Si, S2, and S3.

[0098] Regenerators are devices that can remove the solvent from a sorbent or solution, which has the effect of restoring a higher concentration state of the sorbent or solution. Such a regeneration of the sorbent or solution can be crucial for the continued operation of sorptionbased energy systems. An energy-processing operator may utilize an ECA to accomplish this regeneration. An ECA-based device configured to perform regeneration of a sorbent or solution by removing a corresponding solvent can be referred to herein as an ECA regenerator. ECA-based regenerators can use lower concentration solutions to regenerate higher concentration solutions or to use a single solution to concentrate a quantity of itself spontaneously.

[0099] In particular, utilizing a novel ECA-based regenerator to accomplish a spontaneous regeneration of concentrated solutions from liquid (e.g., water) solutions using an environmental heat as the primary heat source may be highly advantageous in the energyprocessing industry for energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. Furthermore,ensuring a novel ECA-based regenerator achieves scalable energy outputs and / or scalable solvent-extracting capabilities provides advantages in commercialization of such a device. Moreover, incorporating a uniquely fault-tolerant architecture in a novel ECA-based regenerator while achieving high deliquescence salt regeneration provides additional advantages in maintaining robustness and cost effectiveness in commercially operating such a device.

[0100] Corollary 1, the minimal number of EAs in a regeneration ECA is 2. Proof: In the minimal case, EA 2 and EA 3 from above are the same EA, as are S2 and S3, and the configuration is a regeneration ring.

[0101] FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary minimal regeneration ring ECA comprising two EA units 015 and 016 connected with two connections 005 (e.g., vapor transfer pathways). In both EA units 015 and 016, a salt solution Si in the receiver chamber of each EA unit absorbs effluent coming through the connections 005. This can generate a thermal gradient, which, in EA unit 016, transfers heat from the receiver chamber to a second salt solution S2 in the emitter chamber of EA 016 via an apparatus for passively transferring heat energy. In some embodiments, the effluent from the emitter chamber of EA 015 transfers to the receiver chamber of EA 016 faster than the effluent coming from the emitter chamber of EA 016 transfers to the receiver chamber of EA 015 as a result of the greater pressure difference between the solutions in the emitter of EA 015 and the receiver in EA 016 than the pressure difference between the solutions in the emitter of EA 016 and the receiver in EA 015. Due to the unequal flow rates of the effluent, heat can be transferred at different rates between EA 015 and EA 016, causing a thermal gradient to emerge. The thermal gradient can encourage the contents of the emitter chamber of EA 016 (e.g., the solution S2) to evaporate and condense into Si in EA 015, thereby achieving regeneration.

[0102] In some examples, an ECA has an EA in which the emitter is filled with an effluent solutions Si, and the receiver is empty, filled with a very dilute solution, or filled with a solvent compatible with the effluent solution Si. Designate this EA as EA 1. Let us assume that at least one EA, designated EA 2, contains an emitter connected with the receiver from EA 1 and that the solvent or dilute solution S2 in the emitter of EA 2 is compatible with the solution or solvent in the receiver of EA 1. Let us also assume that at least one EA, designated EA 3, contains a receiver that is connected to the emitter of EA 1 and contains a draw solution S3 that is compatible with the solution in the emitter of EA 1. In this case, this ECA can distill the solvent from the emitter from EA 2, condensing it in the receiver in EA 1. It can therefore becalled a distillation ECA enabled by solutions Si, S2, and S3. When the ECA is configured as a ring, the ECA can be called a distillation ring enabled by solutions Si, S2, and S3.

[0103] Corollary 2, the minimal number of EAs in an ECA that is a distillation ring is 2. Proof In the minimal case, EA 2 and EA 3 from above are the same EA and S2 and S3 are the same solution.

[0104] FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary minimal distillation ring. Solvent from the contaminated effluent E is distilled using two EAs 015 and 017 connected in a ring configuration. Connections 005 (e.g., vapor transfer pathways) move matter between the two EAs 015 and 017. As shown in FIG. 21, vapor from the effluent E from an emitter chamber of the EA 015 travels via a vapor transfer pathway and condenses as a distilled solvent into a condensing chamber C (e.g., receiver chamber) in a second EA 017. Similarly, vapor from the effluent E from an emitter chamber of the EA 017 can travel via a vapor transfer pathway and condenses into the salt solution Si in the receiver chamber of the EA 015. This can cool the EA 017 and warms the EA 015, which provides the needed thermal gradient for distillation of the effluent E.

[0105] Note that it is possible to have an ECA that is both a distillation ECA and a regeneration ECA. Moreover, every active ECA can be a dilution ECA and can generate diluted draw solution. Using these different constructions, one can develop devices that are capable of acquiring and distilling solvent from a contaminated effluent solution.

[0106] FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary combined regeneration and distillation ring that is capable of acquiring and distilling solvent from a contaminated effluent solution E. Solvent from the contaminated effluent E is distilled using three EAs 015, 017, and 016 connected in a ring configuration. Connections 005 (e.g., vapor transfer pathways) move matter between the three EAs 015, 017, and 016. As shown in FIG. 22, vapor from the effluent E from the emitter chamber of the first (e.g., leftmost) EA 015 travels via a vapor transfer pathway and condenses as a distilled solvent into a condensing chamber C (e.g., receiver chamber) in a second (e.g., middle) EA 017. This can distill the solvent from the contaminated effluent solution. Vapor from the effluent E from the emitter chamber of the second EA 017 can travel to the receiver chamber of the third (e.g., rightmost) EA 016, bringing along with it thermal energy that warms the salt solution Si within the receiver chamber. This transferred thermal energy can travel from the receiver chamber of the third EA 016 to the emitter chamber of the same EA via an apparatus for passively transferring thermal energy (e.g., a thermally conductive surfaceshared by the emitter and receiver chambers). This, in turn, can warm the salt solution S2 within the emitter chamber of the third EA 016 and generates vapor. The vapor from S2 from the emitter chamber of the third EA 016 can travel to the receiver chamber of the first EA 015, where it condenses into Si , thereby regenerating S2. This can concentrate the salt solution S2 and can transfer heat back to the EA 015.

[0107] The value of the dilution ECA can be attributed to its ability to spontaneously move solvent from potentially contaminated solutions into draw solutions, leaving most, if not all, of the contaminants behind. Because the solvent is drawn into the sorbent by differences in vapor pressure caused by the different constituents of the solutions, and because the mechanism by which liquid moves is by evaporation and subsequent condensation, the movement primarily can involve the pure solvent other than any impurities that might be entrained in the vapor flow. As a result, the system can be used to draw solvent from a contaminated effluent solution, leaving most of the contaminants behind. The mechanism may require creating a vacuum in the system and may use no mechanical filtration or pump to move the liquid; it can be a very low energy and low maintenance system. One output of the dilution ECA, can be a diluted draw solution, which might be used in industrial processes. For instance, using propylene glycol as a draw solution can enable the water from a contaminated water-based effluent to be drawn into the glycol to make a glycol-water mixture. The mixture might be used, for instance, in a boiler where the water would be boiled off and the glycol returned to the dilution ECA for more water.

[0108] The value of the distillation ECA as described herein can lie in its ability to spontaneously distill solvent from an effluent. The distillation can be driven by the thermal gradient created by the absorption of effluent by the draw solution in EA 2’s receiver chamber. Therefore, the distillation can be initiated as soon as a vacuum is created and vapor can begin moving from the effluent into the draw solution. Like any distiller, however, this system can distill contaminants in the effluent in the emitter chamber of the EA 2, and these can appear in the distillate. For instance many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be readily transferred in the distillate. If the effluent being distilled has been produced by a dilution ECA then the contaminants originally in the effluent can be very greatly diminished prior to distillation. This can serve to enable the generation of a highly pure distillate. As with the dilution ECA, the mechanism can require no pumps or filters and can be driven by a spontaneous thermal gradient so the system may need relatively little maintenance and suffers from very little degradation during use.

[0109] Moreover, the value of the regeneration ECA can be attributed to its ability to use the thermal gradient produced by the sorbent in a second EA’s receiving chamber in the regeneration ECA, once it begins absorbing effluent vapor, to concentrate a quantity of relatively concentrated liquid sorbent. As with the distillation and dilution ECAs, the system can begin working as soon as a vacuum is created within the system. Unlike membrane systems, this system can use a lower concentration solution to dry out a higher concentration solution spontaneously, owing to the thermal aspect of the configuration. Unlike thermal systems, this system may not require generated thermal energy. It can be entirely driven by the heat in the environment and in the system itself, requiring only energy from the environment to replace the losses due to the heat of mixing. Like the distillation and dilution ECAs, the regeneration ECA may not require pumps or filters, so the regeneration ECA may require low maintenance and suffers very little degradation during use.

[0110] In some examples, pumps and / or filters may still be incorporated into an ECA-based system for further enhancing system effectiveness and improving practicality of the commercial implementation of the ECA-based system. For example, one or more energycarrying connections within the system (e.g., vapor transfer pathways) may include at least one filter, at least one pump, at least one valve, at least one port, at least one desiccant, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the filter, if incorporated into the ECA-based system, may comprise an osmotic membrane, an electromagnetic field, activated carbon, or similar, and the filter may be placed along any path (e.g., vapor transfer pathway) to remove impurities from any liquid or vapor flow, including separating entrained liquid from any vapor flow. Moreover, a pump, if incorporated into the ECA-based system, may comprise a gravity system, a pneumatic pump, an electro-mechanical pump, and / or similar. A valve, if incorporated into the ECA-based system, may be completely open, completely closed, electronically controlled, manually controlled, omitted entirely, and / or similar. The desiccant may be chemical, unpowered, powered by systemic internal thermal energy, powered by external sources, and / or similar.[OHl] Furthermore, in some embodiments, additions to further direct thermal energy are anticipated. For example, thermal insulation may be added to exterior surfaces of emitter and / or receiver chambers in the entrochemical amplifiers (EAs) in an ECA to prevent thermal energy escape from the system into the external environment. In addition, heat pipes, heat exchangers, and / or any other devices designed to introduce or remove heat energy may be incorporated into an ECA-based system.Example ECA Configurations for Dilution, Distillation, and / or Regeneration

[0112] FIG. 23 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary solvent recovery system comprising a dilution ECA and incoming and outgoing fluid pathways (e.g., vapor transfer pathways). A contaminated effluent 100 and a concentrated draw solution 103 enter the dilution ECA 102. An external storage tank, source, and / or process can provide these inputs to the dilution ECA 102. Within the dilution ECA 102, solvent from the contaminated effluent 100 transfers to the concentrated draw solution 103, transforming the contaminated effluent 100 into an effluent concentrate 101 and the concentrated draw solution 103 into a diluted draw solution 104. The effluent concentrate 101 and diluted draw solution 104 can subsequently be directed out of the system into an external storage tank, sink, and / or process.

[0113] More specifically, the dilution ECA 102 of FIG. 23 can comprise one or more EAs, each containing a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber. One or more vapor transfer pathways can connect the emitter chamber(s) to the receiver chamber(s). At least one receiver chamber of the dilution ECA 102 can be configured to receive the concentrated draw solution 103 (also referred to herein as the “first draw solution”). At least one emitter chamber of the dilution ECA 102 can be configured to receive the contaminated effluent 100 (also referred to herein as the “first contaminated effluent”).

[0114] When vacuum is applied within the dilution ECA 102, heat and matter can be moved within the chambers of the dilution ECA to perform the dilution process. In some embodiments, a vapor is produced by the contaminated effluent 100 in the at least one emitter chamber of the dilution ECA 102. The vapor can flow through a vapor transfer pathway connected to the at least one receiver chamber of the dilution ECA 102. This vapor can be relatively purified and can leave behind non-solvent components of the contaminated effluent solution in the at least one emitter chamber. In the at least one receiver chamber, the vapor can be absorbed by the concentrated draw solution 103. When the contaminated effluent 100 evaporates in the at least one emitter chamber, the heat of vaporization can be removed from the contaminated effluent 100, reducing its temperature. Thus, when the vapor is absorbed by the concentrated draw solution 103, the heat of vaporization can be transferred into the concentrated draw solution 103. As soon as a thermal gradient emerges between the draw solution 104 in the at least one receiver chamber and the contaminated effluent 100 in the at least one emitter chamber, the heat of vaporization can be transferred through a thermal transfer pathway (e.g., a thermally conductive shared surface) from the diluted draw solution104 of the at least one receiver chamber to the contaminated effluent 100 in the at least one emitter chamber. This can induce a vaporization of some of the contaminated effluent 100, once again generating a vapor that can flow through a vapor transfer pathway, continuing the cycle of heat and matter transfer. When a sufficient quantity of vapor is absorbed by the concentrated draw solution 103, it can become diluted and transform into the diluted draw solution 104, which can optionally leave the at least one receiver chamber and be directed out of the dilution EC A 102. The contaminated effluent 100 can be concentrated by the evaporation of the vapor to form an effluent concentrate 101 (also referred to herein as the “first concentrated contaminated effluent”), and the concentrated draw solution 103 can be diluted by the vapor / solvent from the contaminated effluent 100 to form a diluted draw solution 104 (also referred to herein as the “first diluted draw solution”). Purified solvent from the contaminated effluent 100 (e.g., in the form of vapor) can be recovered in the form of the diluted draw solution 104, which can be subsequently used in a variety of external processes such as distillation to further purify the solvent.

[0115] FIG. 24 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary solvent recovery system comprising a dilution EC A, a distillation EC A, and all fluid pathways coming into the system, going out of the system, and within the system. In some embodiments, a contaminated effluent 100 and a concentrated draw solution 103 enter the dilution EC A 102. In some embodiments, the contaminated effluent 100 of FIG. 24 can be the same as or different from the contaminated effluent 100 of FIG. 23. The dilution EC A 102 can transform the contaminated effluent 100 into an effluent concentrate 101 which leaves the dilution ECA 102. The dilution EC A 102 also can transform the concentrated draw solution 103 into a diluted draw solution 104 which goes from the dilution ECA 102 to the distillation ECA 105. In some embodiments, a contaminated effluent 100 and a second concentrated draw solution 107 also goes into the distillation ECA 105. The distillation ECA 105 can transform the contaminated effluent 100 into an effluent concentrate 101 which leaves the distillation ECA 105, the diluted draw solution 104 into a concentrated draw solution 103, which is returned to the dilution ECA 102, and a distillate 108 (also referred to herein as a “distilled solvent”), which leaves the distillation ECA 105 as a purified solvent. The distillation ECA 105 also can transform the concentrated draw solution 2 107 (also referred to herein as a “second draw solution”) into a dilute draw solution 2 106 (also referred to herein as a “second diluted draw solution”), which leaves the distillation ECA 105.

[0116] The below description of FIG. 24 will focus primarily on the distillation ECA 105 and how it functions in tandem with the dilution ECA 102. The dilution ECA 102 of FIG. 24 can share any combination of features of the dilution ECA 102 of FIG. 23 which has previously been described in detail. However, a difference is that the dilution ECA 102 of FIG. 24 can be fluidically connected to the distillation ECA 105 such that the dilution ECA 102 can receive the concentrated draw solution 103 as an input from the distillation ECA 105, and such that the dilution ECA 102 outputs the diluted draw solution 104 to the distillation ECA 105.

[0117] More specifically, the distillation ECA 105 of FIG. 24 can comprise two or more EAs, each containing a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber. Two or more vapor transfer pathways can connect the emitter chamber(s) to the receiver chamber(s). In some embodiments, the vapor transfer pathways can be configured such that each vapor transfer pathway originates from a different emitter chamber and / or each vapor transfer pathway converges at a different receiver chamber. At least one emitter chamber of the distillation ECA 105 can be configured to receive the diluted draw solution 104 from the dilution ECA 102. At least another emitter chamber of the distillation ECA 105 can be configured to receive a contaminated effluent 100 (also referred to herein as the “first contaminated effluent” or the “second contaminated effluent”), which can be the same as or different from the contaminated effluent 100 that is an input for the dilution ECA 102. At least one receiver chamber of the distillation ECA 105 can be configured to receive the concentrated draw solution 2 107, which can be the same as or different from the concentrated draw solution 103 that is an input for the dilution ECA 102.

[0118] In some embodiments, the distillation ECA 105 can comprise two EAs, initially configured such that the first EA contains the dilute draw solution 104 in its emitter chamber, and such that the second EA contains the concentrated draw solution 2 107 in its receiver chamber and the contaminated effluent 100 in its emitter chamber. When a vacuum is applied within such a distillation ECA 105 comprising two EAs, a vapor can be produced by the contaminated effluent 100 in the emitter chamber of the second EA. The vapor can flow through a vapor transfer pathway connecting the emitter chamber of the second EA to the receiver chamber of the first EA. In the receiver chamber of the first EA, the vapor can be absorbed by the concentrated draw solution 2 107. When the contaminated effluent 100 evaporates in the emitter chamber of the second EA, the heat of vaporization can be removed from the contaminated effluent 100, reducing its temperature. Thus, when the vapor isabsorbed by the concentrated draw solution 2 107 of the receiver chamber of the first EA, the heat of vaporization can be transferred into the concentrated draw solution 2 107. When a sufficient quantity of vapor is absorbed by the concentrated draw solution 2 107, it can become diluted and transform into the dilute draw solution 2 106, which can optionally leave the receiver chamber of the first EA and be directed out of the distillation EC A 105. The heat of vaporization can be transferred through an apparatus for passively transferring heat (e.g., a thermally conductive surface shared between emitter and receiver chambers of the first EA) from the dilute draw solution 2 106 in the receiver chamber of the first EA into the dilute draw solution 104 in the emitter chamber of the first EA. This can induce a vaporization of some of the dilute draw solution 104 in the emitter chamber of the first EA, generating solvent vapor which leaves the emitter chamber of the first EA via a vapor transfer pathway to the receiver chamber of the second EA (also referred to herein as a “condenser chamber”). At the receiver chamber of the second EA, the vapor can condense and transfer its heat of vaporization to a thermally conductive surface in the receiver chamber thermally connected to an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber of the second EA to the emitter chamber of the second EA. This heat can transfer to the contaminated effluent 100 in the emitter chamber of the second EA. The condensed solvent vapor, which now has been distilled to form the distillate 108, can leave the receiver chamber of the second EA of the distillation EC A 105 to be used in a variety of external processes.

[0119] FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary solvent recovery system comprising a dilution EC A, a distillation EC A, a regeneration EC A, and all fluid pathways coming into the system, going out of the system and carrying fluid between parts of the system. The regeneration ECA can include at least one regenerator configured to regenerate the concentrated draw solution 2 107 by removing excess solvent from the diluted draw solution 2 106, so that it can be used again as an input for the distillation ECA.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 25, a concentrated draw solution 103 is transferred from the distillation ECA 105 to the dilution ECA 102 while a diluted draw solution 104 is transferred from the dilution ECA 102 to the distillation ECA 105. Similarly, a concentrated draw solution 2 107 is transferred from the regeneration ECA 109 to the distillation ECA 105 while a dilute draw solution 2 106 is transferred from the distillation ECA 105 to the regeneration ECA 109. A concentrated draw solution 3 113 is transferred into the regeneration ECA 109 while a dilute draw solution 3 114 is directed out of the regeneration ECA 109. A contaminated effluent 100 is transferred into the dilution ECA 102, the regeneration ECA 109, and the distillation ECA105 while an effluent concentrate 101 is transferred out of the dilution ECA 102, the regeneration ECA 109, and the distillation ECA 105. In some embodiments, the contaminated effluent 100 entering each ECA can be the same as or different from the contaminated effluent 100 entering the other EC As, and the effluent concentrate 101 exiting each ECA can be the same as or different from the effluent concentrate 101 exiting the other EC As.

[0121] The below description of FIG. 25 will focus primarily on the regeneration ECA 109 and how it functions in tandem with the dilution ECA 102 and the distillation ECA 105. The dilution ECA 102 of FIG. 25 can share any combination of features of the dilution ECA 102 of FIGS. 23 and 24, which have previously been described in detail. The distillation ECA 105 of FIG. 25 can share any combination of features of the distillation ECA 105 of FIG. 24, which has previously been described in detail. For example, similar to the examples provided in FIGS. 23 and 24 above, within the dilution ECA 102 of FIG. 25, the contaminated effluent 100 can be transformed into the effluent concentrate 101 and the concentrated draw solution 103 can be transformed into the diluted draw solution 104. Within the distillation ECA 102 of FIG. 25, the diluted draw solution 104 can be transformed into a concentrated draw solution 103 and a distillate 108, which is directed out of the solvent recovery system. Additionally, within the distillation ECA 105, the concentrated draw solution 2 107 can be transformed into the dilute draw solution 2 106. Moreover, within the distillation ECA 105, a contaminated effluent 100 can be transformed into a concentrated effluent 101. However, a difference between FIG. 25 and the previous FIGS. 23 and 24 can lie in the addition of the regeneration ECA 109, which is fluidically coupled to the distillation ECA 105. Within the regeneration ECA 109, the contaminated effluent 100 can be transformed into an effluent concentrate 101, the dilute draw solution 2 106 can be transformed into the concentrated draw solution 2 107, and the concentrated draw solution 3 113 (also referred to herein as the “third draw solution”) can be transformed into a dilute draw solution 3 114 (also referred to herein as the “third diluted draw solution”). The concentrated draw solution 2 107, the diluted draw solution 3 114, and effluent concentrate 101 can be the outgoing streams from the regeneration ECA 109, while the contaminated effluent 100, the dilute draw solution 2 106, and the concentrated draw solution 3 can be the incoming streams to the regeneration ECA 109.

[0122] More specifically, the regeneration ECA 109 of FIG. 25 can comprise two or more EAs, each containing a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber. Two or more vapor transfer pathways can connect the emitter chamber(s) to the receiver chamber(s). In someembodiments, the vapor transfer pathways can be configured such that each vapor transfer pathway originates from a different emitter chamber and / or each vapor transfer pathway converges at a different receiver chamber. At least one emitter chamber of the regeneration EC A 109 can be configured to receive the dilute draw solution 2 106 from the distillation EC A 105. At least another emitter chamber of the regeneration EC A 109 can be configured to receive a contaminated effluent 100 (also referred to herein as the “first / second / third contaminated effluent”) which can be the same as or different from the contaminated effluent 100 that is an input for the dilution ECA 102 and / or the contaminated effluent 100 that is an input for the distillation ECA 105. At least two receiver chambers of the regeneration ECA 109 can be configured to receive the concentrated draw solution 3 113, which can be the same as or different from the concentrated draw solution 103 that is an input for the dilution ECA 102 and / or the concentrated draw solution 2 107 that is an input for the distillation ECA 105.

[0123] In some embodiments, the regeneration ECA 109 can comprise two EAs, initially configured such that the first EA contains the concentrated draw solution 3 113 in its receiver chamber and the dilute draw solution 2 106 in its emitter chamber, and such that the second EA contains the concentrated draw solution 3 113 in its receiver chamber and the contaminated effluent 100 in its emitter chamber. When a vacuum is applied within such a regeneration ECA 109 comprising two EAs, a vapor can be produced by the contaminated effluent 100 in the emitter chamber of the second EA. The vapor can flow through a vapor transfer pathway connecting the emitter chamber of the second EA to the receiver chamber of the first EA. In the receiver chamber of the first EA, the vapor can be absorbed by the concentrated draw solution 3 113. When the contaminated effluent 100 evaporates in the emitter chamber of the second EA, the heat of vaporization can be removed from the contaminated effluent 100, reducing its temperature. Thus, when the vapor is absorbed by the concentrated draw solution 3 113 of the receiver chamber of the first EA, the heat of vaporization can be transferred into the concentrated draw solution 3 113. When a sufficient quantity of vapor is absorbed by the concentrated draw solution 3 113, it can become diluted and can transform into the dilute draw solution 3 114, which can optionally leave the receiver chamber of the first EA and be directed out of the regeneration ECA 109. The heat of vaporization can be transferred through an apparatus for passively transferring heat (e.g., a thermally conductive surface shared between emitter and receiver chambers of the first EA) from the dilute draw solution 3 114 in the receiver chamber of the first EA into the dilute draw solution 2 106 in the emitter chamber of the first EA. This can induce a vaporization of some of the dilute draw solution 2 106 in theemitter chamber of the first EA, generating solvent vapor which leaves the emitter chamber of the first EA via a vapor transfer pathway to the receiver chamber of the second EA. At the receiver chamber of the second EA, the vapor can condense and transfer its heat of vaporization to a thermally conductive surface separating the receiver chamber from the emitter chamber of the second EA. This heat can transfer to the contaminated effluent 100 in the emitter chamber of the second EA, which once again is heated to generate vapor. The vaporization and subsequent movement of the vapors / sol vents from the contaminated effluent100 and the dilute draw solution 2 106 of the emitter chambers into the concentrated draw solution 3 113 of the receiver chambers can lead to the transformation of all of the solutions, such that the contaminated effluent 100 is concentrated to become the effluent concentrate 101, the dilute draw solution 2 106 is concentrated to become the concentrated draw solution 2 107 (completing the regeneration process), and the concentrated draw solution 3 113 is diluted to become the dilute draw solution 3 114. The concentrated draw solution 2 107 can be used again as an input for the distillation ECA 105.

[0124] In some embodiments, in addition to the regeneration ECA 109 described above, a second regeneration ECA (also referred to herein as a “regenerator”) can be used to regenerate the concentrated draw solution 3 113 by removing excess solvent from the dilute draw solution 3 114. The second regenerator may be configured to receive the dilute draw solution 3 114 from the first regenerator (e.g., the regeneration ECA 109). Under vacuum, the second regenerator can remove water from the dilute draw solution 3 114 via a vaporization process similar to what is performed by the regeneration ECA 109, as described above. The dilute draw solution 3 114 can be concentrated to regenerate as the concentrated draw solution 3 113, which can be used as an input to the regeneration ECA 109. At least a portion of the removed water can be released as water vapor into the environment, to an external storage tank, and / or to be used in an external process.III. Example ECA Configurations Having Degasser(s)

[0125] In any of the ECA configurations described herein, one or more degassers can be used to degas any of the input and / or output solutions of the EC As. For example, for the dilution ECA 102 of FIGS. 23-25, one or more degassers can be fluidically connected to any of the components of the dilution ECA 102 to degas one or more of the concentrated draw solution 103, the dilute draw solution 104, the contaminated effluent 100, and the effluent concentrate101 (e.g., first draw solution, the first diluted draw solution, the first contaminated effluent, and the first concentrated contaminated effluent).

[0126] In some embodiments, for the distillation ECA 105 of FIGS. 24-25, one or more degassers can be fluidically connected to any of the components of the distillation ECA 105 to degas one or more of the concentrated draw solution 103, the dilute draw solution 104, the distillate 108, the concentrated draw solution 2 107, the dilute draw solution 2 106, the contaminated effluent 100, and / or the effluent concentrate 101 (e.g., first draw solution, the first diluted draw solution the distilled solvent, the second draw solution, the second diluted draw solution, the second contaminated effluent, and the second concentrated contaminated effluent.)

[0127] In some embodiments, for the regeneration ECA 109 of FIG. 25, one or more degassers can be fluidically connected to any of the components of the regeneration ECA 109 to degas one or more of the concentrated draw solution 2 107, the dilute draw solution 2 106, the concentrated draw solution 3 113, the dilute draw solution 3 114, the contaminated effluent 100, and / or the effluent concentrate 101 (e.g., second draw solution, the second diluted draw solution, the third draw solution, the third diluted draw solution, the third contaminated effluent, and the third concentrated contaminated effluent).

[0128] In some embodiments, degassing may be used to remove dissolved atmospheric gases from the input and / or output solutions which would otherwise negatively affect the formation or movement of vapors within the EC As.IV Relevant Data and Analysis

[0129] FIG. 16 illustrates a spectrophotometric graph of a contaminated effluent and a draw solution placed in an exemplary EA configured in self mode (e.g., the EA of FIG. 10), where the vapor from the emitter chamber moves to the receiver chamber of the same EA. The bottom two traces illustrate the absorption of the draw solution, the top of which is the initial absorption trace while the bottom is the absorption after 1 hour of absorbing vapor from the effluent. Likewise, the top two traces are the absorption curves of the effluent with the bottom illustrating the absorption of the effluent before dehydration and the topmost illustrating the absorption of the effluent after dehydration. The absorption of the effluent increases while that of the draw solution drops. In addition, little of the structure in the absorption curves of the effluent were transferred to the draw solution indicating that little of the contaminant in the effluent transferred to the draw solution.

[0130] Functional data was collected through the following steps. Distilled and deionized “DD” water was measured with a spectrophotometer to create a baseline absorption spectra ofline (A) DD H2O as a control, knowing it was a common solute across two solution variants. A first solution variant of food coloring and tap water was measured to create a solution baseline represented by line (B) Food Color: 0 hr and then this food coloring and tap water solution was inserted into the emitter chamber of the EA. A second solution variant of CaCh and tap water was measured to create a solution baseline represented by line (E) CaCE: 0 hr and then inserted into the receiver chamber of the EA. After an hour of operating the EA, both solution variants were remeasured as represented by respectively graphed lines labeled (C) Food Color: 1 hr and (D) CaC12: 1 hr.

[0131] Spectrophotometric data for the food coloring solution raised consistently from (B) to (C) across all spectra of measured wavelengths. This means that after one hour, a higher percentage of light was absorbed, as occurs when solute food coloring particles in water become more concentrated due to water solvent evaporation. Similarly, spectrophotometric data for the CaCh solution dropped consistently from (E) to (D) across all spectra of measured wavelengths. This means that after one hour, a lower percentage of light was absorbed, as occurs when concentration of solute CaCh particles in water become less concentrated. The water solvent evaporated from the food coloring chamber, effused naturally into the CaCh chamber along the connected path, condensed, and thus diluted the starting solution in that chamber.

[0132] These results are also proof of concept in that no food coloring transferred between the two EA chambers, as evident by each solution’s 0 hr and 1 hr overall line and peaks matching. Conversely explained, if the food coloring did transfer, then the 1 hr dataline of the receiver chamber would instead reflect the 0 hr dataline of the emitter chamber.

[0133] In some embodiments, tracer molecules may be implemented to prove that more complex systems operate as designed. For a specific example, tracer molecules can be attached to lead or PFAS in effluent water to ensure the liquid has been extracted and distilled out of a contaminated effluent source as desired.

[0134] In conclusion for FIG. 16, first, two solutions with a common solvent but in dissimilar solvent-concentrations may be used in a self mode EA to leverage colligative property discrepancies. This even includes solutions with differing solutes, as shown. Second, dynamically refresh solution concentrations over time (e.g., using a regeneration ECA), the solute in the emitter chamber of a self mode EA becomes more concentrated and the solute in a corresponding receiver chamber becomes diluted. Certain substances in the source solution inthe emitter chamber are not transferred in this process into the draw solution in the receiver chamber, meaning that the system can reduce or eliminate certain contaminants during the draw.

[0135] FIG. 20 presents self-regeneration data from a three stage ring regenerator in which a 7 molar CaCh solution is used to spontaneously regenerates a 7 molar CaCh solution, producing a 9.75 molar CaCh solution. In the three-stage ring regenerator configuration, the emitter chamber of a first EA is connected to the receiver chamber of a second EA, the emitter chamber of the second EA is connected to the receiver chamber of a third EA, and the emitter chamber of the third EA is connected to the receiver chamber of the first EA. The 7 molar CaCh solution is loaded into all of the receiver chambers of the first, second, and third EAs, as well as into the emitter chamber of the third EA. Solvent is loaded into the emitter chambers of the first and second EAs.

[0136] The data of FIG. 20 illustrates that the initial molarity of the sorbent in the three receiver chambers and the emitter chamber of the third EA is 7 molar CaCh. As selfregeneration is performed, the molarity of the CaCh solutions in the three receiver chambers drops to approximately 4 molar, and the molarity of the CaCh solution in the emitter chamber of the third EA increases to 9.75 molar. This indicates that a higher-concentration solution can be successfully regenerated from lower-concentration solutions (e.g., as part of a regeneration ECA) and reused for other applications (e.g., as part of a dilution ECA).

[0137] Unless defined otherwise, all terms of art, notations and other technical and scientific terms or terminology used herein are intended to have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed subject matter pertains. In some cases, terms with commonly understood meanings are defined herein for clarity and / or for ready reference, and the inclusion of such definitions herein should not necessarily be construed to represent a substantial difference over what is generally understood in the art.

[0138] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is also to be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It is further to be understood that the terms “includes, “including,” “comprises,” and / or “comprising,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or unitsbut do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, units, and / or groups thereof.

[0139] The above description is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0140] Among the provided embodiments are:

[0141] Embodiment 1. A system for recovering solvent from a contaminated effluent, the system comprising: a dilution entrochemical array (ECA) comprising: at least one first entrochemical amplifier (EA) unit, wherein each EA unit of the at least one first EA unit comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and one or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the one or more emitter chambers of the at least one first EA unit to one or more receiver chambers of the at least one first EA unit, wherein at least one receiver chamber of the at least one first EA unit is configured to receive a first draw solution, wherein at least one emitter chamber of the at least one first EA unit is configured to receive a first contaminated effluent, wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the dilution ECA, vapor is produced from the first contaminated effluent in the at least one emitter chamber of the at least one first EA unit and moves through the one or more vapor transfer pathways into the at least one receiver chamber of the at least one first EA unit, condensing into solvent and diluting the first draw solution, such that: the first contaminated effluent is concentrated by the evaporation of the vapor to form a first concentrated contaminated effluent, and the first draw solution is diluted by the solvent from the first contaminated effluent to form a first diluted draw solution.

[0142] Embodiment 2. The system of embodiment 1, further comprising: a degasser configured to degas one or more of the first draw solution, the first diluted draw solution, the first contaminated effluent, and the first concentrated contaminated effluent.

[0143] Embodiment 3. The system of embodiment 1 or embodiment 2, further comprising: a distillation ECA fluidically coupled to the dilution ECA, wherein the distillation ECAcomprises: at least two second EA units, wherein each EA unit of the at least two second EA units comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and two or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the two or more emitter chambers of the at least two second EA units and the two or more receiver chambers of the at least two second EA units, wherein at least a first emitter chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive the first diluted draw solution from the dilution ECA, wherein at least a second emitter chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive a second contaminated effluent, wherein at least one receiver chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive a second draw solution, and wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the distillation ECA: vapor is produced from the first diluted draw solution and condenses into a distilled solvent, separating the first diluted draw solution into a distilled solvent and the first draw solution, and solvent is moved from the second contaminated effluent into the second draw solution, transforming the second contaminated effluent into a second concentrated contaminated effluent and the second draw solution into a second diluted draw solution.

[0144] Embodiment 4. The system of embodiment 3, further comprising: a degasser configured to degas one or more of the first draw solution, the first diluted draw solution the distilled solvent, the second draw solution, the second diluted draw solution, the second contaminated effluent, and the second concentrated contaminated effluent.

[0145] Embodiment 5. The system of embodiment 3 or embodiment 4, further comprising: a first regenerator configured to regenerate the second diluted draw solution by removing excess solvent from the second diluted draw solution.

[0146] Embodiment 6. The system of embodiment 5, wherein the first regenerator comprises: a regeneration ECA fluidically coupled to the distillation ECA, wherein the regeneration ECA comprises: at least two third EA units, wherein each EA unit of the at least two third EA units comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and two or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the two or more emitter chambers of the two or more third EA units to the two or more receiver chambers the two or more third EA units, wherein at least a first emitter chamber of the at least two third EA units is configured to receive a third contaminated effluent, wherein at least a second emitter chamber of the at least two third EA units is configured to receive the second diluted draw solution from the distillation ECA, wherein at least two receiver chambers of the at least two third EA units are configured to receive a thirddraw solution, and wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the regeneration ECA: solvent is moved from the third contaminated effluent and the second diluted draw solution into the third draw solution, transforming the third contaminated effluent into a third concentrated contaminated effluent, the second diluted draw solution into the second draw solution, and the third draw solution into a third diluted draw solution.

[0147] Embodiment 7. The system of embodiment 6, further comprising: a second regenerator configured to receive the third diluted draw solution from the first regenerator, wherein the second regenerator is configured to: transform the third diluted draw solution into the third diluted draw solution by removing solvent from the third diluted draw solution, and release at least a portion of the solvent as solvent vapor.

[0148] Embodiment 8. The system of embodiment 6 or embodiment 7, further comprising: a degasser configured to degas one or more of the second draw solution, the second diluted draw solution, the third draw solution, the third diluted draw solution, the third contaminated effluent, and the third concentrated contaminated effluent.

[0149] Embodiment 9. The system of any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein the apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber comprises a thermally conductive surface that is shared by the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber.

[0150] Embodiment 10. The system of any one of embodiments 1-9, further comprising: a filter positioned within the one or more vapor transfer pathways.

[0151] Embodiment 11. The system of any one of embodiments 1-10, wherein the first diluted draw solution is transferred to an external process.

[0152] Embodiment 12. The system of any one of embodiments 1-11, wherein the first draw solution is received from an external process.

[0153] Embodiment 13. An apparatus for recovering solvent from a contaminated effluent comprising a dilution ECA wherein a contaminated effluent and a draw solution are loaded into the ECA, and wherein in the presence of a vacuum therein the solvent from the contaminated effluent transfers into the draw solution producing a diluted draw solution and a concentrated effluent.

[0154] Embodiment 14. An apparatus for recovering solvent from a contaminated effluent comprising a dilution ECA and a distillation ECA wherein a first contaminated effluent and a first draw solution are loaded into the dilution ECA and wherein in the presence of a vacuumtherein the solvent from the contaminated effluent transfers into the first draw solution producing a diluted draw solution and a first concentrated contaminated effluent; and wherein the first diluted draw solution from the dilution ECA is loaded into the distillation ECA along with a second contaminated effluent and a second concentrated draw solution in the configuration of a distillation ECA enabled by the first diluted draw solution, a second contaminated effluent, and a second draw solution wherein in the presence of a vacuum within the distillation ECA the first diluted draw solution is separated into a distilled solvent and a first draw solution, the second contaminated effluent is transformed into a second concentrated contaminated effluent, and the second draw solution is transformed into a second dilute draw solution.

[0155] Embodiment 15. The apparatus of embodiment 13 or embodiment 14, further comprising a regenerator that regenerates the second dilute draw solution by removing excess solvent from it.

[0156] Embodiment 16. The apparatus of embodiment 15, wherein the regenerator comprises a regeneration ECA enabled by a third draw solution and a third effluent; wherein in the presence of an internal vacuum the third draw solution is transformed into a third dilute draw solution, the second dilute draw solution is transformed into a second draw solution, and the third effluent is transformed into a third concentrated effluent.

[0157] Embodiment 17. The apparatus of embodiment 16, further comprising a second regenerator wherein the third dilute draw solution is transformed into a third draw solution and the water removed from the third draw solution becomes water vapor, some of which is evaporated into the air.

[0158] Embodiment 18. A system for extracting a target solvent from an effluent solution, the system comprising: a degasser configured to receive an effluent solution supply and convert the effluent solution supply to a degassed effluent solution; and an entrochemical amplifier fluidically coupled to the degasser, wherein the entrochemical amplifier comprises: a receiver chamber configured to receive a concentrated draw solution, an emitter chamber configured to receive the degassed effluent solution, a vapor transfer pathway connecting the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber to the emitter chamber, and wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the entrochemical amplifier, vapor is produced from the degassed effluent solution in the emitter chamber and moves through the vapor transfer pathway into the receiver chamber, condensinginto the concentrated draw solution, wherein evaporation of the vapor from the degassed effluent solution in the emitter chamber removes a quantity of heat consistent with a heat of vaporization for a quantity of evaporated solvent from the degassed effluent solution, wherein condensation of the vapor into the concentrated draw solution in the emitter chamber adds a quantity of heat consistent with the heat of vaporization for the quantity of evaporated solvent from the degassed effluent solution, and wherein the concentrated draw solution is diluted by solvent from the degassed effluent solution to form a diluted concentrated draw solution.

[0159] Embodiment 19. The system of embodiment 18, wherein heat is passively transferred between the receiver chamber to the emitter chamber via a thermally conductive surface that is shared by the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber.

[0160] Embodiment 20. The system of embodiment 18 or embodiment 19, further comprising: a second degasser configured to receive a concentrated draw solution and transform the concentrated draw solution into a degassed stream of concentrated draw solution which flows into a concentrated draw solution supply input.

[0161] Embodiment 21. The system of any one of embodiments 18-20, further comprising: a mixing subsystem configured to mix the concentrated draw solution within the receiver chamber of the entrochemical amplifier.

[0162] Embodiment 22. The system of any one of embodiments 18-21, further comprising: a filter within the vapor transfer pathway.

[0163] Embodiment 23. The system of any one of embodiments 18-22, wherein the diluted concentrated draw solution is transferred to an external process.

[0164] Embodiment 24. The system of any one of embodiments 18-23, wherein the concentrated draw solution is received from an external process.

[0165] Embodiment 25. A system for extracting a target solvent from an effluent solution, comprising: an entrochemical amplifier configured to receive a first degassed effluent solution and a first concentrated draw solution and to generate a concentrated effluent supply and a dilute first concentrated draw solution; and an entrochemical distiller configured to receive the dilute first concentrated draw solution from the entrochemical amplifier, a second degassed concentrated draw solution, and a second degassed effluent solution supply and to generate a second concentrated effluent supply, a second concentrated draw solution, a first distilled solvent and a dilute second concentrated draw solution, wherein, in the presence of vacuumwithin the entrochemical amplifier, solvent is moved from the first degassed effluent solution into the first concentrated draw solution transforming the first degassed effluent solution into the concentrated effluent supply and the first concentrated draw solution into the dilute first concentrated draw solution, wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the entrochemical distiller, solvent is moved from the second degassed effluent solution supply into the second degassed concentrated draw solution transforming the second degassed effluent solution supply into the second concentrated effluent solution supply and the second degassed concentrated draw solution into the dilute second concentrated draw solution, wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the entrochemical distiller, solvent is removed from the dilute first concentrated draw solution and condensed into a dilute solvent, transforming the dilute first concentrated draw solution into the first concentrated draw solution, and wherein the first concentrated draw solution is directed to the entrochemical amplifier.

[0166] Embodiment 26. The system of embodiment 25, further comprising: a desiccator configured to receive the dilute second concentrated draw solution.

[0167] Embodiment 27. The system of embodiment 26, further comprising: a degasser configured to receive the second concentrated draw solution produced by the desiccator.

[0168] Embodiment 28. The system of embodiment 27, wherein the degasser is configured to produce the second degassed concentrated draw solution.

[0169] Embodiment 29. The system of any one of embodiments 25-28, further comprising: a degasser configured to receive an effluent solution, wherein the degasser is configured to produce a degassed effluent solution.

[0170] The foregoing description, for the purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the techniques and their practical applications. Others skilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniques and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0171] Although the disclosure and examples have been fully described with reference to the accompanying figures, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood asbeing included within the scope of the disclosure and examples as defined by the embodiments. Finally, the entire disclosure of the patents and publications referred to in this application are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0172] Any of the systems, methods, techniques, and / or features disclosed herein may be combined, in whole or in part, with any other systems, methods, techniques, and / or features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A system for recovering solvent from a contaminated effluent, the system comprising: a dilution entrochemical array (ECA) comprising: at least one first entrochemical amplifier (EA) unit, wherein each EA unit of the at least one first EA unit comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and one or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the one or more emitter chambers of the at least one first EA unit to one or more receiver chambers of the at least one first EA unit, wherein at least one receiver chamber of the at least one first EA unit is configured to receive a first draw solution, wherein at least one emitter chamber of the at least one first EA unit is configured to receive a first contaminated effluent, wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the dilution ECA, vapor is produced from the first contaminated effluent in the at least one emitter chamber of the at least one first EA unit and moves through the one or more vapor transfer pathways into the at least one receiver chamber of the at least one first EA unit, condensing into solvent and diluting the first draw solution, such that: the first contaminated effluent is concentrated by the evaporation of the vapor to form a first concentrated contaminated effluent, and the first draw solution is diluted by the solvent from the first contaminated effluent to form a first diluted draw solution.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a degasser configured to degas one or more of the first draw solution, the first diluted draw solution, the first contaminated effluent, and the first concentrated contaminated effluent.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the dilution ECA is a ring.

4. The system of any one of claims 1-3, further comprising: a distillation ECA fluidically coupled to the dilution EC A, wherein the distillation ECA comprises: at least two second EA units, wherein each EA unit of the at least two second EA units comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and two or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the two or more emitter chambers of the at least two second EA units and the two or more receiver chambers of the at least two second EA units, wherein at least a first emitter chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive the first diluted draw solution from the dilution ECA, wherein at least a second emitter chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive a second contaminated effluent, wherein at least one receiver chamber of the at least two second EA units is configured to receive a second draw solution, and wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the distillation ECA: vapor is produced from the first diluted draw solution and condenses into a distilled solvent, separating the first diluted draw solution into a distilled solvent and the first draw solution, and solvent is moved from the second contaminated effluent into the second draw solution, transforming the second contaminated effluent into a second concentrated contaminated effluent and the second draw solution into a second diluted draw solution.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising: a degasser configured to degas one or more of the first draw solution, the first diluted draw solution the distilled solvent, the second draw solution, the second diluted draw solution, the second contaminated effluent, and the second concentrated contaminated effluent.

6. The system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the distillation ECA is a ring.

7. The system of any one of claims 4-6, further comprising: a first regenerator configured to regenerate the second draw solution by removing excess solvent from the second diluted draw solution.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first regenerator comprises: a regeneration ECA fluidically coupled to the distillation EC A, wherein the regeneration ECA comprises: at least two third EA units, wherein each EA unit of the at least two third EA units comprises: a receiver chamber, an emitter chamber, and an apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber; and two or more vapor transfer pathways connecting the two or more emitter chambers of the two or more third EA units to the two or more receiver chambers the two or more third EA units, wherein at least a first emitter chamber of the at least two third EA units is configured to receive a third contaminated effluent, wherein at least a second emitter chamber of the at least two third EA units is configured to receive the second diluted draw solution from the distillation ECA, wherein at least two receiver chambers of the at least two third EA units are configured to receive a third draw solution, and wherein, in the presence of vacuum within the regeneration ECA: solvent is moved from the third contaminated effluent and the second diluted draw solution into the third draw solution, transforming the third contaminated effluent into a third concentrated contaminated effluent, the second diluted draw solution into the second draw solution, and the third draw solution into a third diluted draw solution.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the regeneration ECA is a ring.

10. The system of claim 8 or 9, further comprising: a second regenerator configured to receive the third diluted draw solution from the first regenerator, wherein the second regenerator is configured to:transform the third diluted draw solution into the third draw solution by removing solvent from the third diluted draw solution, and release at least a portion of the solvent as solvent vapor.

11. The system of any one of claims 8-10, further comprising: a degasser configured to degas one or more of the second draw solution, the second diluted draw solution, the third draw solution, the third diluted draw solution, the third contaminated effluent, and the third concentrated contaminated effluent.

12. The system of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the apparatus for passively transferring heat between the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber comprises a thermally conductive surface that is shared by the receiver chamber and the emitter chamber.

13. The system of any one of claims 1-12, further comprising: a filter positioned within the one or more vapor transfer pathways.

14. The system of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the first diluted draw solution is transferred to an external process.

15. The system of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the first draw solution is received from an external process.

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