Abstract: A digital camera facilitates remote visual inspection of alignment between a rotor plate and a track plate of a multi-position rotary valve. In some embodiments, a signal from the video camera is used as part of a feedback system that controls advancement of the rotor plate, to automatically align apertures in the rotor plate with apertures in a track plate. Some embodiments facilitate remote visual inspection of the condition of a seal sheet disposed between the rotor plate and the track plate, without disassembling the rotary valve. Some embodiments automatically measure remaining usable thickness of the seal sheet.

Abstract: A fairing, in the form of a contoured restriction, submerged on a fluid channel surface of a fluid channel through which liquid flows, re-distributes velocity fields and flow geometries upstream and in some embodiments downstream of a discontinuity, thereby preventing flow separation, reducing cavitation potential and increasing flow capacity. Such discontinuities include, but are not limited to: joints, for example elbow joints, T-joints and Y-joints; valve-trims; entrance regions to centrifugal pumps; and entrance regions to rotary valves, steps, reductions, expansions and ledges. The fairing may be fitted into the channel or integrally fabricated with the channel.

Abstract: Methods are described for removing contaminants, including glycidyl fatty acid esters, 3-monochloropropane diol and toxins from edible oils by using short path stripping at reduced temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: A method for removing FFAs and toxins from edible oils, without requiring short path distillation and its attendant high temperatures and high loss of product, includes preheating a crude or refined edible oil input stream, having a toxic material content of at least about 1 PPB, to a temperature of about 400-450° F. and introducing the preheated edible oil stream to the top of a vertical stripper column operating at a pressure of about 0.1-3 Torr, typically about 2 Torr. The downward flowing edible oil stream in the stripper is stripped by superheated steam flowing in a countercurrent direction up through the stripper column. Refined and deodorized edible oil having a toxic material content of less than about 500 PPT, and typically as low as about 1 PPT, and at most about 0.2% by weight FFAs, is removed from the stripper.

Abstract: A rotary grinding system includes a support frame and a grinding assembly coupled to the support frame for longitudinal movement, with respect to a workpiece attached to the support frame. A radial arm is suspended below the grinding assembly and rotated in a plane parallel to the workpiece. A grinding wheel traverses the radial arm, thereby working a circular, annular or sector portion of the workpiece. The height, and therefore the depth of cut, of the grinding wheel may be precisely adjusted via a single point adjustment screw or the like. Optionally, the grinding system may be controlled by a computer numeric controller (CNC) to automatically refinish programmed portions or all of the workpiece. Eccentric pins extending from the support frame and into the workpiece may be used to adjust the lateral position of the support frame, relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: A vertical wiped thin-film evaporator (WFE) may be bottom fed or top fed. Some embodiments have integral entrainment separation devices. Some embodiments are configured with replaceable rotor blade cartridges to facilitate experimenting with different blade configurations, blade pitches and directions (up or down) of thin film displacement for various modes of operation. Some embodiments can be operated in either co-current or counter-current modes, without requiring modification to their “overheads” (entrainment separation, condensing and vacuum) systems. Some embodiments include a variety of feed nozzles and/or a variety of “bottoms” nozzles. The available nozzles provide flexibility in operating the device, such as selecting a mode (top feeding or bottom feeding) of operation or co-current or counter-current vapor extraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodiesel process capable of yielding a mono-alkyl ester biodiesel. In one embodiment, a process for yielding biodiesel comprises providing a feed stream. Preferably, the feed stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, salts, alcohol and glycerol. The process also comprises substantially separating alcohol from the feed stream to yield a first stream. The first stream comprises mono-alkyl esters, glycerol and salts. A separation of alcohol from the first stream is performed by volatility. Furthermore, the process of the invention comprises substantially separating salts from the first stream to yield a vapor stream. The vapor stream also comprises mono-alkyl esters and glycerol. Separation of salts of the vapor stream is also performed by volatility. Glycerol and mono-alkyl esters of the vapor stream are also substantially separated so as to yield a biodiesel. Preferably, the biodiesel is a fuel grade biodiesel comprising fatty acid mono-alkyl esters.

Abstract: The invention features a self-contained, portable apparatus for performing precision grinding operations on metal disks of up to, e.g., 54 inches in diameter. The apparatus can be attached to the surface of the disk to be refinished and is leveled using special precision leveling adjusters. During operation, the adjusters are turned in precision increments to set the depth of cut. The grinder is then rotated on an arm about the center of the disk, by the use of a hydraulically driven speed reducer, rotor, bearing assembly. In a further aspect, the invention includes a dressing assembly for performing dressing-truing on a vitreous wheel when the wheel is in grinding position. The in position dressing assembly dresses a grinding wheel at up to 0.00125-inch increments.

Abstract: A method for the concentration and separation of a sterol-containing plant mixture employing a single, rotary, thin film horizontal evaporator for saponification of the mixture in a reaction zone, evaporation of volatile by-products, and discharge of a soap product and free sterol mixture in an evaporation zone for subsequent separation, purification, and recovery of free sterols and a soap product.

Abstract: An integral system and method for the separation and purification in a single operation of a heat or oxygen-sensitive liquid feed, such as a plant derived liquid feed mixture of fatty acids, tocopherol compounds and sterols, into a low boiling point purified fraction of Vitamin E tocopherol compounds and a high boiling point concentrate fraction of triglycerides, which system can be maintained in the presence of an inert gas to provide reduced degradation and increased purity of the Vitamin E fraction. The system includes a pre-evaporator, a vapor-liquid separator, a packed bed distillation column, a rotary thin film evaporator and an evaporator-stripper.

Abstract: A method for the separation and purification in a single pass of a heat or oxygen-sensitive liquid feed, such as a plant derived liquid feed mixture of fatty acids, tocopherol compounds and sterols, into a low boiling point purified fraction of Vitamin E tocopherol compounds and a high boiling point concentrate fraction of triglycerides, which method can be maintained in the presence of an inert gas to provide reduced degradation and increased purity of the Vitamin E fraction.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid extraction method and apparatus, which method comprises sequentially pulsing the light and heavy phases and controlling the operation of the valves which introduce into and withdraw from the column the liquid phases, based on the percent of phase-volume changes occurring in the liquid-liquid extraction in the column.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid extraction apparatus, which apparatus comprises a liquid-liquid extraction column with timing controls for sequentially pulsing the light and heavy phases and controlling the operation of the valves which introduce into the withdraw from the column the liquid phases, based on the percent of phase-volume changes occurring in the liquid-liquid extraction in the column.

Abstract: A process for the direct preparation of a gasohol from a low-content, water-alcohol solution of a fermentation broth, which solution contains ethanol or methanol, which process comprises mixing a low-volume alcohol solution, a solvent miscible in the alcohol and in the gasoline and a gasoline; discarding essentially alcohol-free water and recovering a gasohol composition of about 8% to 15% by volume of combined alcohol and solvent; removing water of saturation from the gasohol; and recovering substantially anhydrous gasohol.

Abstract: A thin-film wiped evaporator with rotary blades having a helical twist, the twist of the blades increasing from the one to the other end so as to provide a maximum twist at the one or the other end of the evaporator.

Abstract: In a dynamic solids concentrator having a rotor with radially extensive disc-like elements which rotate adjacent other stationary or rotating disc-like elements, stabilizing members are provided along radial edges of the respective elements. In the case of the rotating elements, the stabilizing members are stabilizing fingers which ride within guide members on or guide paths in the inner walls of the concentrator and, in another embodiment, T-shaped stabilizing members whose arms ride on the surfaces of adjacent disc-like elements. In the case of the non-rotating elements, the stabilizng members are stabilizing fingers which ride within the guide members on or guide paths in the concentrators's rotor shaft. The fingers, T-shaped members and their cooperating guides stabilize the relative positions of the disc-like elements within the concentrator under conditions in which pressure differentials within the concentrator or high rotor speeds would otherwise disturb their relative positions.

Abstract: In a dynamic solids concentrator having a rotor with radially extensive disc-like elements which rotate adjacent other stationary or rotating disc-like elements, stabilizing members are provided along radial edges of the respective elements. In the case of the rotating elements, the stabilizing members are stabilizing fingers which ride within guide members on or guide paths in the inner walls of the concentrator and, in another embodiment, T-shaped stabilizing members whose arms ride on the surfaces of adjacent disc-like elements. In the case of the non-rotating elements, the stabilizing members are stabilizing fingers which ride within the guide members on or guide paths in the concentrator's rotor shaft. The fingers, T-shaped members and their cooperating guides stabilize the relative positions of the disc-like elements within the concentrator under conditions in which pressure differentials within the concentrator or high rotor speeds would otherwise disturb their relative positions.

Abstract: An improved thin-film rotary evaporator wherein a meshtype deentrainment material having a large amount of free space is secured in the vapor chamber to the rotor shaft for rotation therewith to entrain particles from the vapor phase without a large pressure drop.

Abstract: Apparatus for concentrating and washing solids in a slurry comprising a housing containing both separation/concentration and washing chambers with an inlet for continuously injecting solids -- containing fluid into the separation chamber wherein a dynamic filtering system is provided for separating the solids -- containing fluid to form a cencentrate of solids and a filtrate. The filtering system includes a plurality of stationary filter elements and a plurality of rotor elements mounted on a rotatable shaft from which they extend outwardly and adjacent the filter elements to form a plurality of alternating rotor and filter elements within the housing. The concentrate washing chamber is disposed downstream of the filtering system and includes a plurality of stationary filter elements and a plurality of rotor elements arranged similarly to the elements in the filtering system.

Abstract: The concentrator has at least one shaft-mounted rotor disc of solid or hollow construction with two or more ploughs located equally spaced about its periphery. The ploughs extend outwardly into the flow path of a solids-containing fluid within the concentrator to deter any tendency, due to centrifugal force, for a build-up of solids between stationary filter means and in a region remote from the periphery of the rotor disc. In a disclosed embodiment of the concentrator, the shaft-mounted rotor disc has at least one passage therethrough for the flow of solids-containing fluid from one side of the rotor disc to the other, and a plough is provided adjacent the passage and on a hub of the rotor disc to deter any tendency for a build-up of solids adjacent the passage.